Boris Kustodiev

1
Boris Kustodiev
Self-Portrait in front of Troitse-Sergiyeva Lavra, 1912, Uffizi
Boris Mikhaylovich Kustodiev (Russian:
) (March 7,
1878 May 28, 1927) was a Russian painter
and stage designer.
[1][2]
Early life
Boris Kustodiev was born in Astrakhan into
the family of a professor of philosophy,
history of literature, and logic at the local
theological seminary.
[1]
His father died
young, and all financial and material
burdens fell on his mother's shoulders.
[2]
The Kustodiev family rented a small wing in
a rich merchant's house. It was there that the
boy's first impressions were formed of the
way of life of the provincial merchant class.
The artist later wrote, "The whole tenor of
the rich and plentiful merchant way of life
was there right under my nose... It was like
something out of an Ostrovsky play."
[2]
The
artist retained these childhood observations
for years, recreating them later in oils and
water-colours.
[2]
Art studies
Between 1893 and 1896, Boris studied in theological seminary and took private art lessons in Astrakhan from Pavel
Vlasov, a pupil of Vasily Perov.
[3]
Subsequently, from 1896 to 1903, he attended Ilya Repins studio at the Imperial
Academy of Arts in St.Petersburg.
[1]
Concurrently, he took classes in sculpture under Dmitry Stelletsky and in
etching under Vasiliy Mate.
[1]
He first exhibited in 1896.
[1]
"I have great hopes for Kustodiev," wrote Repin. "He is a talented artist and a thoughtful and serious man with a
deep love of art; he is making a careful study of nature..."
[4]
When Repin was commissioned to paint a large-scale
canvas to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the State Council, he invited Kustodiev to be his assistant. The
painting was extremely complex and involved a great deal of hard work. Together with his teacher, the young artist
made portrait studies for the painting, and then executed the right-hand side of the final work.
[5]
Also at this time,
Kustodiev made a series of portraits of contemporaries whom he felt to be his spiritual comrades. These included the
artist Ivan Bilibin (1901, Russian Museum), Moldovtsev (1901, Krasnodar Regional Art Museum), and the engraver
Mate (1902, Russian Museum). Working on these portraits considerably helped the artist, forcing him to make a
close study of his model and to penetrate the complex world of the human soul.
[2]
In 1903, he married Julia Proshinskaya (18801942).
[6][7]
He visited France and Spain on a grant from the Imperial Academy of Arts in 1904. Also in 1904, he attended the
private studio of Ren Mnard in Paris. After that he traveled to Spain, then, in 1907, to Italy, and in 1909 he visited
Austria and Germany, and again France and Italy. During these years he painted many portraits and genre pieces.
Boris Kustodiev
2
However, no matter where Kustodiev happened to be in sunny Seville or in the park at Versailles he felt the
irresistible pull of his motherland. After five months in France he returned to Russia,
[2]
writing with evident joy to
his friend Mate that he was back once more "in our blessed Russian land".
[2]
Career
The Russian Revolution of 1905, which shook the foundations of society, evoked a vivid response in the artist's soul.
He contributed to the satirical journals Zhupel (Bugbear) and Adskaya Pochta (Hells Mail). At that time, he first met
the artists of Mir Iskusstva (World of Art), a group of innovative Russian artists. He joined their association in 1910
and subsequently took part in all their exhibitions.
[2]
In 1905, Kustodiev first turned to book illustrating, a genre in which he worked throughout his entire life. He
illustrated many works of classical Russian literature, including Nikolai Gogol's Dead Souls, The Carriage, and The
Overcoat; Mikhail Lermontov's The Lay of Tsar Ivan Vasilyevich, His Young Oprichnik and the Stouthearted
Merchant Kalashnikov; and Leo Tolstoy's How the Devil Stole the Peasants Hunk of Bread and The Candle.
[2]
In 1909, he was elected into Imperial Academy of Arts.
[2]
He continued to work intensively, but a grave
illnesstuberculosis of the spinerequired urgent attention.
[6]
On the advice of his doctors he went to Switzerland,
where he spent a year undergoing treatment in a private clinic.
[6]
He pined for his distant homeland, and Russian
themes continued to provide the basic material for the works he painted during that year. In 1918, he painted The
Merchant's Wife, which became the most famous of his paintings.
[6]
The Merchant's Wife, (1918).
In 1916, he became paraplegic.
[1]
"Now my
whole world is my room", he wrote.
[4]
His
ability to remain joyful and lively despite
his paralysis amazed others. His colourful
paintings and joyful genre pieces do not
reveal his physical suffering, and on the
contrary give the impression of a carefree
and cheerful life. His Pancake
Tuesday/Maslenitsa (1916) and Fontanka
(1916) are all painted from his memories.
He meticulously restores his own childhood
in the busy city on the Volga banks.
[8]
In the first years after the Russian
Revolution of 1917 the artist worked with
great inspiration in various fields.
Contemporary themes became the basis for
his work, being embodied in drawings for
calendars and book covers, and in
illustrations and sketches of street
decorations, as well as some portraits
(Portrait of Countess Grabowska). His
covers for the journals The Red Cornfield and Red Panorama attracted attention because of their vividness and the
sharpness of their subject matter. Kustodiev also worked in lithography, illustrating works by Nekrasov. His
illustrations for Leskov's stories The Darner and Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District were landmarks in the history
of Russian book designing, so well did they correspond to the literary images.
[2]
Boris Kustodiev
3
Stage design
The artist was also interested in designing stage scenery. He first started work in the theatre in 1911, when he
designed the sets for Alexander Ostrovsky's An Ardent Heart. Such was his success that further orders came pouring
in. In 1913, he designed the sets and costumes for The Death of Pazukhin at the Moscow Art Theatre. His talent in
this sphere was especially apparent in his work for Ostrovsky's plays; It's a Family Affair, A Stroke of Luck, Wolves
and Sheep, and The Storm. The milieu of Ostrovsky's playsprovincial life and the world of the merchant
classwas close to Kustodiev's own genre paintings, and he worked easily and quickly on the stage sets.
[2]
In 1923, Kustodiev joined the Association of Artists of Revolutionary Russia. He continued to paint, make
engravings, illustrate books, and design for the theater up until his death of tuberculosis on May 28, 1927, in
Leningrad.
[1]
Selected works
Portrait of Elizabeth
Grigorievna Pushkina
(Early 20th century)
Portrait of Vasily Mate (1902) Portrait of Julia
Kustodieva (wife) (1903)
Irina (daughter)
(1906)
Promenade Along Volga River
(1909)
Fair (1910) Easter Greetings
(1912)
Portrait of Renee
Notgaft (1914)
Tsar Nicholas
II (1915)
Maslenitsa Tuesday (1916) Mir iskusstva Members
(19161920)
Stenka Razin
(1918)
Boris Kustodiev
4
Country (1919) Blue House
(1920)
Bolshevik (1920) Isaak Brodsky
(1920)
Shalyapin (1921) Kapitsa and Semyonov (1921) Yevgeny Zamyatin (1923) Maximilian Voloshin
(1924)
Russian Venus
(1926)
Domovoi Peeping at the Sleeping
Merchant Wife
Portrait of Countess
Grabowska.jpg (1917)
References
[1] Kustodiev's biography at Olga's gallery (http:/ / www. abcgallery. com/ K/ kustodiyev/ kustodiyevbio. html)
[2] Kustodiev's biography at ArtRoots.com (http:/ / artroots. com/ ra/ bio/ kustodiev/ boriskustodievbio. htm)
[3] Kustodiev and Petrov-Vodkin as members of Mir Iskusstva (http:/ / www. radmuseumart. ru/ pages/ index. asp?id_pages=431& id_header=6)
[4] Kustodiev's biography at Hrono.ru (http:/ / www.hrono. ru/ statii/ o_kustodi. html)
[5] History of creating of the painting to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the State Council (http:/ / nauka. relis. ru/ 15/ 0401/ 15401033.
htm)
[6] Another Kustodiev's biography (http:/ / vmeste-gazeta. narod. ru/ 12_2. html)
[7] Catalog of Proshina's works (http:/ / www.picture.art-catalog. ru/ people. php?id_people=166)
[8] Boris Kustodiyev 125th Anniversary exhibition at the Russian Museum. (http:/ / www. rusmuseum. ru/ eng/ exhibitions/ ?id=205& i=0&
year=2004)
External links
Boris Kustodiev at WikiGallery.org (http:/ / www. wikigallery. org/ wiki/ artist34106/ Boris-Kustodiev/ page-1)
Article Sources and Contributors
5
Article Sources and Contributors
Boris Kustodiev Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=539659010 Contributors: Alex Bakharev, Alma Pater, Alynna Kasmira, Andreas Kaganov, Arria Belli, BD2412, Benramm,
Canderson7, DerechoReguerraz, Deror avi, DionysosProteus, Everyking, Ezhiki, Fred26, Ghirlandajo, Good Olfactory, Greyhood, Henry Merrivale, Hmains, Jetman, Jtir, Julia Rossi,
Leningradartist, M-le-mot-dit, Mary Read, Monegasque, Nk, Pataki Mrta, Rjwilmsi, Sid39joly, Spacerek, Sparkit, Trident13, Tyciol, Vinci71, Waacstats, William Tennent, Wknight94, Yahel
Guhan, Zloyvolsheb, thelwold, 23 anonymous edits
Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors
Image:Kustodiev self portrait.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Kustodiev_self_portrait.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Alex Bakharev, AndreasPraefcke,
Anne97432, Ford TTT, Frank C. Mller, Krschner, Laim, Shakko
Image:Kustodiev Merchants Wife.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Kustodiev_Merchants_Wife.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Alex Bakharev,
AndreasPraefcke, Bukk, Jonkerz, Jtir, Kaganer, Mattbuck, Mattes, Moogsi, Pierpao, Pitke, Shakko, Talmoryair, Thorvaldsson, Vincent Steenberg, Wst
Image:Kustodiev pushkina.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Kustodiev_pushkina.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Alex Bakharev, AndreasPraefcke, Jtir,
Shakko
Image:Kustodiyev Mate.JPG Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Kustodiyev_Mate.JPG License: Public Domain Contributors: Alex Bakharev, Butko, Ctac, DaB., Dmitry
Rozhkov, Infrogmation, Ixtzib, Kaganer, Shakko
Image:Kustodiev Portrait Of Wife.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Kustodiev_Portrait_Of_Wife.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Alex Bakharev,
AndreasPraefcke, Boo-Boo Baroo, Bukk, Mattes, Pitke, Ras67, Shakko, 1 anonymous edits
Image:Kustodiev irina.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Kustodiev_irina.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: User:
Image:Kustodiev promenade Volga.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Kustodiev_promenade_Volga.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: A.Savin, Alex
Bakharev, AndreasPraefcke, Berillium, Bukk, Shakko
Image:Kustodiyev fair.JPG Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Kustodiyev_fair.JPG License: Public Domain Contributors: Alex Bakharev, AndreasPraefcke, JA ALT,
Shakko, Zimin.V.G.,
Image:Paskhakustodiev.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Paskhakustodiev.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Ghirlandajo, Kinno Angel, Matt314, Off-shell,
PhilAnG, Shakko, , 1 anonymous edits
Image:Kustodiev Renee Notgaft.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Kustodiev_Renee_Notgaft.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Alex Bakharev,
AndreasPraefcke, Ixtzib, Jtir, Shakko
Image:Tsar nikolai.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Tsar_nikolai.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Ghirlandajo, Krschner, Robert Prummel, Shakko
Image:Kustodiyev maslenitsa.JPG Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Kustodiyev_maslenitsa.JPG License: Public Domain Contributors: Alex Bakharev,
AndreasPraefcke, Butko, Dcoetzee, Lotje, Pitke, Schekinov Alexey Victorovich, Shakko, Umnik,
Image:Kustodiyev world of the art.JPG Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Kustodiyev_world_of_the_art.JPG License: Public Domain Contributors: Alex Bakharev,
AndreasPraefcke, Ctac, Docu, DonaldDuck, Shakko, Skipjack, Very trivial
Image:Kustodiev razin.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Kustodiev_razin.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Jaro.p, Mattes, Shakko, The Deceiver
Image:KustodievB Provinc.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:KustodievB_Provinc.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Alex Bakharev, Berillium, FSII,
Shakko, Syrcro
Image:Kustodiev GoluboyDomik.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Kustodiev_GoluboyDomik.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Alex Bakharev, Jarekt,
Shakko, Yuli Klever
Image:Kustodiyev bolshevik.JPG Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Kustodiyev_bolshevik.JPG License: Public Domain Contributors: 1Veertje, Alex Bakharev,
AndreasPraefcke, Infrogmation, Man vyi, NVO, Off-shell, Razr, Sfrandzi, Shakko, 2 anonymous edits
Image:Isaak Brodsky by Kustodiev.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Isaak_Brodsky_by_Kustodiev.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Al Silonov, Alex
Bakharev, AndreasPraefcke, Infrogmation, Jean-Frdric, Jtir, Michael Barera, OsamaK, Shakko, Warburg
Image:Kustodiyev Shalyapin.JPG Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Kustodiyev_Shalyapin.JPG License: Public Domain Contributors: Alex Bakharev, AndreasPraefcke,
George Shuklin, Jkelly, Krschner, Mariluna, PKM, Shakko, Svabbogar
Image:KustodiyevSemenov Kapitsa.JPG Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:KustodiyevSemenov_Kapitsa.JPG License: Public Domain Contributors: Alex Bakharev,
AndreasPraefcke, Ephraim33, Kaganer, Leyo, Mdd, Serge Lachinov, Shakko, UrLunkwill
Image:Kustodiev Zamyatin.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Kustodiev_Zamyatin.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Jtir, Mattes, Sctechlaw, Shakko
Image:Kustodiev Voloshin.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Kustodiev_Voloshin.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Alex Bakharev, AndreasPraefcke,
Grebenkov, Ixtzib, Jarekt, Shakko
Image:Kustodiev russian venus.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Kustodiev_russian_venus.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Alex Bakharev, Berillium,
Bukk, Ferra, Jtir, Kilom691, Kozuch, Longhairadmirer, Rd232, Rl, Shakko, Skipjack, TwoWings, Zolo, , 1 anonymous edits
Image: .jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:__.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Alex Bakharev, Butko, Ghirlandajo,
Infrogmation, Kilom691, La luna negra, Man vyi, Mattes, The Evil IP address, Zolo,
Image:Boris_Kustodiev_Portrait_of_Countess_Grabowska_1917.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Boris_Kustodiev_Portrait_of_Countess_Grabowska_1917.jpg
License: Public Domain Contributors: Kilom691, Shakko, Spacerek
License
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
//creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/