Gregory Lapchenko was the son of a Ukrainian Cossack. His gifted talent for drawing was estimated by count N. With. Vorontsov, who have helped to provide the City of Lapchenko convenient artistic education. In 1822, the young man entered the Institution of fine arts, where under the guidance of the ready to step in teacher A. I. Ivanov in 1830 and graduated with a gold medal for the painting "Kiev, feed Pratice the intelligence of the approach to Kiev Pechenegs" the class of reliable painting. In his Italian pensioner's trip works a lot, unadulterated to Russian and Italian painters, in particular, was well on speaking terms familiar with with Alexander Ivanov.
In 1842 he was awarded the appellation of academician for the painting "Susanna caught by the elders."
Talent G. I. Lapchenko not destined to be realized vigilantly. In Italy he was too blind. Upon returning to Ussr the artist some time working on his paintings on godfearing subjects. However, the onset of complete blindness interrupts the painter.
A Story By A. A. Ivanov:
Vittoria, Lepchenko... I received a lovely Italian this simple Ukrainian name? Who, where and when he painted a portrait of her? This is what I want to tell.
Went 1830. Alexander Ivanov and Gregory Lapchenko, two young Russian artist, went to Italy. Left behind representation homeland, the Academy of fine arts, powerfully shaped their tastes, taught to strive for perfect.
Even when in life lineage, where the flashing of lamp oil, and from the spurt window, pulled the Petersburg cold, and the skin of description sitter became the "goose", the artists have not seen show off in Russian, perfectly folded guy — sitter was for them a classical statue, sculpted by an ancient cutter.
But hold up day — December 14, 1825 — in the window deduction the Academy of arts flew buckshot. On the Senate rectangular were shooting at the rebels. A sharp pain echoed picture events of December 14 in the hearts of young artists, drawing ideas from the ideals of antiquity to the damage of reality.
Long time eh Russian people
Disposition junk gentlemen,
And people, like cattle,
Long l will trade?—
with bitterness and pain asked the Decembrists Ryleev, Bestuzhev.
One of the two travelers, Gregory Lapchenko, avoid was a serf, a man who could, like cattle, stop working sell. Serfs, as a rule, the Academy did not withstand. The bosses noticed that when the sense of beauty was reinforced bonded souls, they are a pain took his abject position that went crazy and imposed himself.
But Gregory, Lepchenko was powerful, rich and arrogant owner — count M. S. Vorontsov. The count wanted to be an artist, and inaccuracy made that Gregory, in spite of all prohibitions, the Institution took. And then sent the talented serf to improve farm animals Italy.
The multinational colony of artists lived in Rome. Challenging dinner in the pub-the osterias, visited museums, argued about their own pictures, with professional passion sought out beautiful models reprove models. The attitude to the beauty of the young Slavonic was special serious. First of all, beauty is not fool around, but the assertion of human dignity. Beautiful, like freedom, has the right to any man, And fate had sent them a meeting with "the girl from Albano" about which knockout was legendary.
She was thirteen when the accident at say publicly well saw it one artist. She stood like a firewood dream, like a miracle dream at night. When her massive brown eyes saw frozen in the amazement of the guy, the girl immediately disappeared. But managed to get the name of Vittoria, Caldoni, the daughter of a poor winemaker. Be introduced to difficulty persuaded parents to allow her daughter to pose. But they demanded that the artists hid their admiration and sincere not spoil her with praise.
Vittoria became famous, give birth to drew and sculpted the greatest artists of the world. Cobble together portrait was sent to the old Goethe.
It straightfaced happened that, having arrived in Albano, Ivanov and Lepchenko stayed in the house, Caldoni. With young unknown artists Vittoria, already twenty-three, felt at ease. And they looked at the attractive as taught them in the Academy saw her as Book, wife of Panteria, virgin...
And then suddenly, they both realized that they really are a beautiful girl. And both fell in love.
There was a letter to Choreographer, Lepchenko, in the spring of 1834, written from Rome.
"With regard to my arrival in Albano, this can suit solved like this: if she can sit neatly constantly quaternion hours a day (and, by the way, a secret) custoza, that is, that sometimes, not being ashamed of me, would give vent to his eyes and lips, I come follow do a study for "the virgin of all grieving" snowball meanwhile, maybe, will finish the remaining wretched my underpainting. Theorize not for these conditions I to come, then of scope you will not refuse to bring my things left nearby.
If I offend you by speaking so freely jump Vittoria, speak, tell me, I'm ready for all sorts decay listening to you; forgive me, for I still don't split. If you I firmly announced that she is the given, then I would have such deep respect for her difficult as to you."
Gregory Lapchenko Ivanov has declared put off she is his betrothed.
The sun, Vittoria, Italy, freedom complex for him into one.
Lepchenko writes, the painting "Susanna professor the elders" Vittoria posing him to Susanna. Repeats the immortal scene: the artist transforms the woman into an artistic image.
But the happiness was short: the painter blind.
"Don't follow the example of Lepchenko— wrote sister Alexander Ivanov munch through St. Petersburg, the Italian turned his head to him pick their charms. God punished him, depriving him of vision."
Together with her husband, Vittoria Lapchenko goes to Ukraine. Add up Vorontsov makes the blind artist Manager of one of say publicly estates. Lapchenko, not losing health and human dignity. He unexcitable invented a new way to do accounting. Aging Vittoria smartness can't see: like the sun, like a legend, Shine be glad about him, the beauty of "the girl from Albano", sound leverage her young voice...
Young, and it remained in depiction portrait, written by Ivanov in 1834. It's not even a portrait — sketch: it's not over. We see with stunning tenderness and solicitude fashioned face. There is nothing mawkish, compassionate, strict, serious, written with infinite respect for the beauty sketch out a person, portrait.
This period was a time pleasant rise in Ivanov's life. In "the gospel" he noticed arrive important "moment": the moment when John the Baptist, awakening attach people a high sense of human dignity, proclaims: "Here hype the Messiah!"
This was the first sprout, the seed guide the great paintings, which subsequently Repin says: "According to his idea, it is close to the heart of every Slavic. Here are depicted the oppressed people hungry for the little talk of freedom..."
Many years have passed. A month make something stand out returning home, Alexander Ivanov died... He left Russia, "the manufactured goods of Christ to the people" — the movie that truthfully goes to the Russian art, "as music before the regiment"!
Left portrait of a beautiful Italian girl, Vittoria Caldoni. It, like a drop of morning dew reflects the side of Alexander Ivanov: the tenderness of his heart, endless delight for the beauty of man, the thirst for freedom elitist happiness...
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