Transcript RUSSIAN PAINTING: DMITRY LEVITSKY

State Tretyakov Gallery,
Moscow
Russian Museum,
Saint Petersburg
RUSSIAN PAINTING:
DMITRY LEVITSKY
SUVERTOK OLGA IVANOVNA
School 1958, Moscow, 2007
Russian portrait painting
Dmitry Levitsky
Borovikovsky
Rokotov
The Visual arts were slowly developing in Russia. The
18th and early 19th centuries produced portraitists
Rokotov, Levitsky and Borovikovsky, who showed the
significance of human personality with the complex
spiritual world.
Russian portrait painting
Borovikovsky
“Portrait of Lopukhinoi”
Rokotov
“Portrait of Struiskoi”
Leviskij
“Rzhevskaya and Davydova”
Smolny Institute
.
Smolny Institute was
founded by Katherina
the Great
Smolny Institute
Ivan Ivanovich
Beysky was the
head of the
Institute
Smolyanki were
the girls of noble
origin who were
going to become
courtiers
Dmitry Levitsky
Dmitry Levitsky was born
in 1735 in Kiev. His father
was a clergyman in the
Theological Academy and
was a well-educated
person.
Dmitry Levitsky:
series “Smolyanki”.
Levitsky’s portraits are
united by optimistic
perception of life and
admiration for the variety
of its form.
Levitsky created
numerous unforgettable
portraits, among them is a
series “Smolyanki”.
Smolyanki were well educated and well
bred, they were fond of music, literature,
painting..
While looking at the picture you are struck
by his deep perception of the spiritual life
of young female souls.
In “Necklidov’s Portrait”he
managed to show the shimmer
of light over the expensive
fabrics, delicate lace and the
beautiful young face.
The portrait of Katherine the Great
Later he was interested in
the portraits of outstanding
people.
He didn’t think her to
be and ideal monarch
and he managed to
show it.
Levitsky painted every detail of her cloth:
double-headed eagles on the robe of state,
order’s band, the creases in her dress.
But he paid the least regard to her face.
A frozen smile and a haughty expression
make it similar to a mask.