Attitude to still life in different epochs changed sometimes almost forgot about him, and sometimes he was the most popular genre Painting. As an independent genre of painting, he appeared in the work of Dutch artists in the 17th century. In Russia, for a long time to still life related to lower genre, and only at the beginning of the 20th century became a full genome. In four century history artists created very a large number of still lifes, but among this amount you can allocate the most well-known and significant work for the genre.

"Still life with ham and silver dishes" (1649) Villem Clas Hedda (1594-1682).

The Dutch artist was a recognized master of still life, but it was this painting that stands out in his work. Here is noticeably the virtuosite skill of Heady in the transfer of everyday household items - a sense of reality of each of them is created. On the table covered with a rich tablecloth, there is an amber lemon, a piece of fresh ham and a table silver. Tomorrow it has just been over, so a small mess is noticeable on the table, which makes the picture even more real. Like most of the Dutch still lifes this period, here every item bears some semantic load. So, the silver dishes talk about earthly wealth, the ham denotes sensual joy, and lemon - external beautyhiding inner bitterness. Through these symbols, the artist reminds us that it should be thought of more about the soul, and not just about the body. The picture is made in a single brown-gray gamme characteristic of the whole dutch painting of this era. In addition to obvious decorativeness, this still-life also talks about the invisible "quiet life" of items that the artist's attentive look was noticed.

"Peaches and pears" (1895) Paul Cesanne (1830-1906).

The genre of still life has always been very conservative. Therefore, almost until the beginning of the 20th century, he also looked like in the 17th century. As long as Paul Cezann did not take him. He believed that painting should objectively transmit reality, and the pictures should be based on the laws of nature. Cezann sought to convey non-changeable, but permanent quality of the subject, through the synthesis of shape and colors, combining the shape and space. And the genre of still life has become an excellent object for these experiments. Each of the items on the still life of "peaches and pears" is depicted from different angles of view. So we see the table from above, fruit and tablecloth - on the side, a small table - from the bottom, and the jug is generally at the same time from different sides. Cezanne is trying to correctly transfer the shape and volume of peaches and pears. To do this, it uses optical laws, so warm shades (red, pink, yellow, golden) are perceived by the protruding, and cold (blue, blue, green) - retreating deep into the depths. Therefore, the form of items on its still lifes does not depend on the lighting, but is done constant. That is why Cezanna looks monumental.

Blue Tablecloth (1909) Henri Matisse (1869-1954).

Even people inexperienced in painting have an idea of \u200b\u200bwhat still life looks. These are the paintings on which the compositions from any objects of life or colors are depicted. However, not everyone knows how this word is translated - still life. Now we will tell you about it and many other things, which is associated with this genre.

The origin of the word "still life"

So, the expression of Nature Morte came to Russian, of course, from French. As you see, it is divided into two parts - "Nature" and "Morte", which are translated, respectively as "nature, nature, life" and "dead, quiet, fixed". Now we put two parts together and get the whole familiar word "still life".

Based on all of the foregoing, you can make a conclusion that still lifes is a genre meal painting, an image of an artist on canvas frozen, motionless nature. True, sometimes masters of still life complement their quite living beings - butterflies, caterpillars, spiders and bugs and even birds. But the exception only confirms the basic rule.

Formation of the genre

The history of still life has for almost 600 years. Until the XVI century no one could come to the head that you can draw some kind of paints inanimate objects, even if very beautiful. Still lifes-paintings simply did not exist in those times. In the Middle Ages, painting was entirely dedicated to God, church and man. Artists wrote pictures on religious plots, were also in all portraits. Even the landscape performed only as a supplement.

But still, some elements of the still life have already met in the 15th century from Dutch painters. In their paintings with traditional religious or mythological content, as well as portraits there are images of carefully discharged flower garlands, books, dishes and even human skulls. A couple of centuries will pass, and the whole world will admire the creations of the so-called small Dutch - masters still lifewous painting.

However, its allocation in an independent genre of fine arts is still not the Dutch men, but the French. Such as Francois depart, Monnuaye and Jean-Batist Udria formulated the basic principles of "subject" painting, formed her main concept and appeared to the general public all the beauty and charm of still life.

The era of small dutch - the flourishing of still lifelong painting

So, let's try to bother for several centuries ago in order to understand who such small dutch and why, when it comes to a classic still life, they always remember them. The first Dutch still lifes are the creations of painters who lived in the Netherlands in the 17th century. Small Dutch - so accepted to call the school of painting and community of artists who created pictures of household focus of small sizes. Of course, they wrote not only still lifes.

Among them were many landscape players and masters of genre painting. Their canvas were not intended at all for palaces and churches, but to decorate the dwellings of the most ordinary citizens. At that time, about 3 thousand artists lived in a little Holland, and they all differed to carry the beauty of the everyday world to canvas well to carry the beauty of the everyday world. Subsequent art historians will call this time by the Dutch Renaissance. It was then that the genre of still life was widespread.

Top Dutch still lifes

On beautiful as on the storefront, various kitchen utensils, fruits, luxury flowers, household goods are unfolded in front of the audience. Flower still lifes were very popular. It was partly due to the fact that in the Netherlands, time immemorials existed a cult of flowers and gardening. Some of the brightest representatives of the Dutch still lifestyle painting 17 in. Artists Yang Davids de Hem, as well as his son Cornelis de Hem.

Their picturesque creations were gained popularity and fame largely due to the fact that they knew how to portray flowers and fruits. Careful study of parts with a sophisticated color gamut And the ideally built composition made their paintings by unmatched. These artists painted luxurious floral bouquets, standing in beautiful vases, with whom butterflies flute; Fruit garlands; transparent wine glasses filled with wine; dishes with grapes and other fruits; musical instruments etc. The well-known still-life of the father and the Son are striking by their realism, the fine transmission of the game of light and refined color.

Still life in the painting of impressionists

Much attention was paid to the genre of still life and french impressionists, as well as the premixesonists. Naturally, their manner of writing differed sharply from the realistic sophistication of small Dutch, because the classical painting of impressionists did not attract. Claude Monet, Edward Mana, Edgar Degas, Van Gogh - All these artists loved writing flowers and plants, because both are part of nature, whose beauty they melted all their lives.

Auguste Renoir wrote for his life a whole gallery of beautiful air still lifes. Sometimes the image of the "frozen nature" is required to be impressionists only as a supplement. For example, in the painting "Breakfast on the grass", Edward Mana in the foreground, you can see a magnificent still life of scattered clothes, scattered on the grass of fruits and the dog. Van Gogh wrote a lot of unusual still lifes. Many know His paintings "Sunflowers" or "Irises", but he still has such canvas, like "Van Gogh" chair - all these are also samples of still life painting.

Russian Still Life

Surprisingly, in Russia still life in the form separate genre It was not in demand for a long time, as it was considered almost the lower from all species of fine art, which does not require fundamental knowledge, nor special skills in painting. Only in the second half of the XIX century. Russian mobileians were able to cause interest in this genre of art from the Russian public.

Subsequently, many Russian painters were fascinated by a still lifewous painting. Still Life famous artistssuch as Igor Grabar, Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin, Ivan Khrutsk, can be seen in the halls of the Tretyakov Gallery, the Russian Museum, Museum fine arts them. Pushkin in Moscow, as well as in the Hermitage. But the real flourishing of still lifested painting occurred in our country in the era of socialism.

Photo Still Life

With the arrival of photography in the world of art, another genre appeared as photo still lifes. Today, many people are keen on the creation of photographic masterpieces. Some pictures are simply amazed by their perfection and skill of the photographer. Sometimes with the help of the camera, talented photoers manage to reach still lifes, which are not inferior to the most famous creations of small Dutch.

In order to start drawing still life, you must first draw it out of any items. For the first experiments in the still lifelby painting, it is better not to make complex compositions, couples-troika items will be enough.

Next, draw still life in stages. First you need to make a drawing with a pencil or coal. Then there should be easy submarines that reveal the basic colors and shadows of the composition, and then you can then begin directly to the drawing of parts.

Still life is a genre that acquired fame in Western art by the end of the XVI century and since then remains an important genre. Still life are classified according to the image of conventional items that can be natural, such as flowers, fruits, etc. or artificial, such as glasses, musical instruments, etc. The following is a list of the 10 most famous still-life artists including Charden, Cezanna fields, Van Gogh and Georgio Morandi.

№10 Still Life Series, Artist Tom Vesselman

Pop Art movement arose in the 50s of the 20th century, and uses recognizable images from a popular culture. Among the most popular works Pop Art is a series of still lifes Tom Vesselman. His still lifes depict elements modern Mira, not fruits and vegetables of the previous generation of artists of this genre. This work (still life # 30) is a combination of painting, sculptures and collage of trademarks, which Tom saw on the street.

№9 Vanitas with a violin and a glass ball

Artist: Peter Clas

Go to the final stage of this series of posts about the genre of still life. He will be devoted to the work of artists in Russia.

Perhaps, perhaps from Fedor Petrovich Tolstoy (1783-1873). Still life graphics F.P. Tolstoy, famous Russian sculptor, medaler, draftsman and painter, probably the most outstanding and valuable part of it creative heritageAlthough the artist himself said that he created these works "in his free time from serious occupation."

The main property of still lifestyle drawings is thick - their illusion. The artist carefully copied nature. He tried, according to his own words, "with strict prisons to transfer a copied flower from nature on paper as it is, with all the slightest details belonging to this flower." In order to introduce a viewer in error, Tolstoy used such illusionist techniques, as an image of dew droplets or translucent paper, covering the drawing and helping to deceive vision.

Ilya Efimofich Repin (1844-1930) also turned to such a motive of still life as flowers. These works include the painting "Autumn Bouquet" (1892, Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow), where the artist with equal attention depicts autumn landscape, young woman standing against the background of golden trees, and a modest bouquet of yellow and white colors in her hands.

I. Repin. Autumn bouquet. Portrait of a rope faith. 1892, Tretyakov Gallery

The history of the painting "Apples and Leaves" is somewhat unusual. Still life, combining fruits and leaves, was set for a student of Repina, V.A. Serov. The subject composition was so much liked by the teacher that he decided to write such a still life himself. Flowers and fruits attracted many artists who preferred from other things precisely these, most poetic and beautifully showing the world of nature. Even I.N. Kramskaya, who was dismissively believed to such a genre, also gave tribute to still life, creating a spectacular picture "Bouquet of flowers. Floxes "(1884, Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow).

Valentin Aleksandrovich Serov (1865-1911) is known to most of us as an artist who paid attention in the field of landscape, portrait and historical painting. However, it should be noted that the subject in his work always played an important role and often occupied the same equal position, as well as other elements of the composition. A little higher, I already mentioned his student work "Apples on the leaves", 1879, held under the leadership of Repin. If we compare this work with the work written on the same topic of the Repin, you can see that Serov's still life is distinguished by more sketching than his teacher's cloth. The novice artist used a low point of view, so the first and second plans are combined, and the background is reduced.

Famous from childhood Picture "Girl with Peaches" goes beyond portrait genre And it is not by chance that she is called "girl with peaches", and not the "portrait of faith mammoth". We can see that the features of the portrait, interior and still life are connected here. The artist pays equal attention to the image of the girl in a pink blouse and a few, but skillfully grouped subjects. On a white tablecloths lie gently yellow peaches, maple leaves and brilliant knife. Lovely discovered and other things that are on the far: chairs, a large porcelain plate, adorning the wall, a figure of a toy soldier, a candlestick on the windowsill. Sunlight, pouring out of the window and leaving the items bright glare, gives the image poetic charm.

Mikhail Alexandrovich Vrubel (1856-1910) wrote: "And again it emphasize me, no, it does not give up, but I am heard by the intimate national note that I so want to catch on canvas and in the ornament. This is a whole man's music, not dissected by distractions of an orderly, differentiated and pale west. "

At the Academy of Arts, the beloved teacher Vrubel was Pavel Chistyakov, who took the young painter to "draw the form" and arguing that volumetric forms Do not create in space with tube and contours, they should be built with lines. Thanks to him, Vrubel learned not to just show nature, but as if he had a sincere, almost love conversation with her. In such a spirit, a wonderful still life of the masters "Roshovnik" (1884) was performed.

Against the background of exquisite drapery with floral motifs, the artist posted an elegant rounded vase, painted by the eastern patterns. Distinctly allocated gentle white flower Rosehip, shaded with a blue-green cloth, and the leaves of the plant are almost merged with dimly shimmering black vase neck. This composition is executed by the inexpressible charms and freshness, which the viewer simply cannot but succumb.

Large skills in creating still lifes- "sniffs" reached G.N. Heat and T. Ulyanov. Most often, they portrayed a militant wall, on which the knots and bodies of the tree were drawn. On the walls are hung or shut up for nail-nailed ribbons a variety of items: scissors, scallops, letters, books, music notebooks. On narrow shelves, clocks, inks, bottles, candlesticks, dishes and other small things are placed on the narrow shelves. It seems that such a set of objects is completely accidental, but in fact it is not so. Looking at such still lifes, you can guess the interests of artists engaged in musication, reading, fond of art. Masters lovingly and diligently depicted their dear things. These paintings touches their sincerity and the immediacy of the perception of nature.

Boris Mikhailovich Kustodiev (1878-1927) also paid a lot of still life in his work. On his cheerful canvases you can see bright satin fabrics, sparkling with copper samovars, shine of earthenware and porcelain red slices of watermelon, grape clusters, apples, appetizing cupcakes. One of it wonderful pictures It is the "checkpiece for tea", 1918 it is impossible not to admire the bright splendor of the objects shown on the canvas. Sparkling samovar, bright red meat of watermelons, glossy apples and transparent grapes, glass vase with jam, gold-plated sugar bowl and a cup facing, all these things make a festive mood in an image.

In the genre of still liver much attention It was paid to the so-called "still lifes-foolish". Many still lifes - "deceptions", despite the fact that their main task was to introduce a viewer for error, possess undoubted artistic merits, especially noticeable in museums, where, woven around the walls, such compositions, of course, cannot deceive the public. But there are exceptions here. For example, "Still Life with Books", performed by P.G. Bogomolov, inserted into the illusory "bookcase", and visitors do not immediately recognize that it is just a picture.

Very good "Still Life with a Parrot" (1737) G.N. Teplova. With the help of clear, clear lines, moving into soft, smooth contours, light, transparent shadows, thin color nuances, the artist shows a variety of objects raised on a boardwall. Woodly transmitted wood, bluish, pink, yellowish shades of which helps to create almost a real feeling of fresh smell just a dotted tree.

Russian still lifes- "deceivers" of the XVIII century show that the artists still not skillfully transmit space and volumes. More importantly, for them to show the texture of objects, as if transferred to canvas from real reality. Unlike the Dutch still lifes, where things absorbed by the light medium are depicted in unity with her, in the paintings of Russian masters, objects discharged very carefully, even petty, live as if by themselves, regardless of the surrounding space.

At the beginning of the XIX century big role In the future, the development of still life was played by A.G. School Venetsianova, who spent against strict delimitation of genres and sought to teach his pupils with a holistic vision of nature.

A.G.Vetsianov. Khumno, 1821-23

Venetian School discovered a new genre for Russian art - interior. Artists showed various premises of the noble house: living rooms, bedrooms, cabinets, kitchens, classrooms, human, etc. In these works, an important place was given an image of various items, although the still life itself was almost not interested in representatives of the Venetian circle (in any case, a very little still-life was preserved, performed by students of the famous painter). Nevertheless, Venetsianov called on his pupils to carefully work out not only the faces and figures of people, but also the things around them.

The subject in the painting of Venetsian is not an accessory, it is inextricably linked with the rest of the paintings and is often the key to understanding the image. For example, a similar function is performed by sickle in the picture "Zntsy" (the second half of the 1820s, the Russian Museum, St. Petersburg). Things in Venetsian art seem involved in the unhurried and serene life of characters.

Although Venetcianov, in all likelihood, did not write the actual still lifes, he included this genre into his learning system. The artist wrote: " Inanimate things are not subject to the diverse changes, which are characteristic of objects animated, they stand, keep in front of an inexperienced artist, lively, motionless and give him a time more accurate and intelligently, to penetrate into the relationship of one part to the other as in the lines, so in the light and shadow , koi depend on the site occupied by objects”.

Of course, still life played a major role in the pedagogical system of the Academy of Arts in the XVIII- XIX centuryx (in class schools, pupils made copies from the still lifes of the Dutch masters), but it was Venetsianov who called on young artists to contact nature, introduced the first year of study on the student, compiled from such things as gypsum figures, dishes, candlesticks, multicolored ribbons, Fruits and flowers. The objects for training still lifes Venetsian chose so that they are interested in novice painters, are understandable in shape, beautifully in color.

In the paintings created by Talented students of Venetsianov, things were transferred truthfully and fresh. Such are still lifes K. Zelentsova, P.E. Cornilova. There are works in the works of Venetsianovens who are at their essence are not still lifes, but, nevertheless, the role of things in them is enormous. You can call, for example, the cloth "Cabinet in Islands" and "Reflection in the Mirror" G.V. Soroki stored in the meeting of the Russian Museum in St. Petersburg.

G.V. Magpie. "Cabinet in islands." Fragment, 1844, Russian Museum, St. Petersburg

Still lifes in these works are not independently, but as a peculiar part of the interior part, corresponding to the general compositional and emotional system of paintings. The main binding element here is the light, gently turning from one item to another. Looking at the canvas, you know how interesting the artist around the world is lovingly depicting every item, every small thing.

Still life presented in the "office in the islands", although it takes a small place in general compositionIt seems unusually significant allocated due to the fact that the author burned it from the rest of the high springs of the sofa, and the left and on the right cropped the frame. It seems that forty so fascinated by the objects lying on the table, which almost forgot about the rest of the paintings. The master carefully wrote everything: goose feather, pencil, circus, transport, perochitelnik, abacus, sheets of paper, candle in a candlestick. The point of view from above allows you to consider all things, none of them light up another. Attributes like a skull, clocks, as well as the symbols of "earth fuss" (figurine, paper, scores), allow some researchers to rank still life to the type of Vanitas, although such a coincidence is purely randomly, most likely a serf artist took advantage of the fact that he lay on the table His owner.

Well-known master of subject compositions first halves XIX. Century was the artist I.F. Khrutsky who wrote a lot beautiful pictures in spirit dutch Still Life XVII century. Among his best works - "Flowers and Fruits" (1836, Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow), "Portrait of a wife with flowers and fruits" (1838, Art Museum Belarus, Minsk), "Still Life" (1839, Museum of the Academy of Arts, St. Petersburg).

In the first half of the XIX century, the "Botanical Still Life", which came to us from Western Europe, was very popular. In France, at this time, the work of botany with beautiful illustrations. Much of fame in many European countries received the artist P.Z. Rabutay, who was considered "the most famous painter of flowers of his time." "Botanical Figure" was a significant phenomenon not only for science, but also for art and culture. Similar drawings were presented as a gift, decorated albums, which thus put them in one row with other works of painting and graphics.

In the second half of the XIX century, a lot of attention was paid to the image of items. Fedotov. Although he did not write the other student, the world of things created by him admires her beauty and truthfulness.

Objects in the works of Fedotov are inseparable from the life of people, they take the most direct participation in the dramatic events depicted by the artist.

Looking at the picture " Fresh cavalier"(" Morning after Pirushka ", 1846), amazing the abundance of objects, carefully discharged by the master. A real still-life, surprising by his laconicity, is presented at the famous picture of Fedotov "Watching Major" (1848). Tangible actually transmitted glass: high leg wine glasses, bottle, decanter. The finest and transparent, it seems to make a gentle crystal ringing.

Fedotov P.A. Major walling. 1848-1849. GTG

Fedotov does not separate objects from the interior, so things are shown not only reliably, but also picturesquely thin. Each is the most common or not too attractive item that occupies its place in the overall space seems amazing and beautiful.

Although Fedotov did not write still lifes, he showed an undoubted interest in this genre. The flair suggested to him how to position one or another subject, from what point of view it is to imagine what things will look next to not only logically reasonable, but also expressive.

The world of things helping to show a person's life in all its manifestations, gives the works of Fedotov special musicality. These are the paintings "Anchor, still Anchor" (1851-1852), "Widow" (1852) and many others.

In the second half of the XIX century, the student's genre practically stopped interested in artists, although many genrestones willingly included the elements of still life in their compositions. Much of importance is acquired by things in the paintings V.G. Perova ("Tea Party in Mytishchi", 1862, Tretyakovskaya Gallery, Moscow), L.I. Solomatkina ("Slavic-Cities", 1846, state historical Museum, Moscow).

Still lifes are represented by B. genre scenes A.L. Yushanova ("Wires of the Chief", 1864), M.K. Klodta ("Patient Musician", 1855), V.I. Jacobi ("Performer", 1858), A.I. Korzukhin ("before confession", 1877; "in the monastery hotel", 1882), K.E. Makovsky ("Alekseich", 1882). All these canvases are now stored in the Collection of the Tretyakov Gallery.

K.E. Makovsky. "Alekseich", 1882, Tretyakovskaya Gallery, Moscow

In 1870-1880, the leading genre in Russian painting remained household, although the landscape and the portrait also occupied an important place. A huge role for further development Russian art played mobileians who sought to show the truth of life in their works. Artists began to give great importance Working from nature and therefore, more and more often turned to the landscape and still life, although many of them considered the last waste of time, meaningless enthusiasm of the form devoid of internal content. So, I.N. Kramskaya mentioned the famous French painter, not neglected by still lifes, in a letter to V.M. Vasnetsov: "Will not talented man Wast time on the image, put, pelvis, fish, etc. It is good to do people who have everything already, and we have a bad corner. "

Nevertheless, many Russian artists who have not written still lifes, admired them, looking at the Western Masters Cloths. For example, V.D. Polenov, who was in France, wrote I.N. Kramsky: "You look at how it goes here, as if by oil, everyone works in a kind, in a wide variety of areas that who likes, and all this is appreciated and paid. We mainly have the value that is done, and here - as done. For example, for a copper pelvis with two fish pay twenty thousand francs, and even in addition, they consider this copper deeds to the master of the first painter, and, perhaps, not without reson. "

Having visited in 1883 at the exhibition in Paris V.I. Surimov admired landscapes, still lifes and paintings with the image of flowers. He wrote: "Hiberta's good fish. Fish Sliz is handed over to master, colorfully, tone kneaded. " There is in his letter to P.M. Tretyakov and such words: "And Gilbert fish - a miracle what. Well, at all in the hands you can take, before deception it is written. "

And the polenov, and Surikov could become beautiful masters Still Life, as evidenced by masterly written items in their compositions (Polyenov, "Menshikov in Berezov" Surikov).