Russian fairy tales and epics riddled with magic, inhabited by heroes familiar from an early age, excited and inspired poets, artists, composers. The fairy-tale plot was especially developed in Russian culture in the 19th century, when creators of various art forms worked in a single impulse - composers staged operas based on the tales of writers, and artists were inspired by theatrical productions.
The Swan Princess
That is how the beautiful painting by Mikhail Alexandrovich Vrubel (1856-1910), The Swan Princess, adorning one of the halls of the Tretyakov Gallery, was created. Fascinated by the opera N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov's "Tale of Tsar Saltan" based on the plot of the same-name tale by A.S. Pushkin, the artist first drew sketches of theatrical scenery and costumes. Then a portrait of the Swan Princess appeared, the part of which was performed by the artist’s wife. However, the fabulous winged beauty from the picture is no longer similar to the surviving photographs of the singer - she is original and tragic, like many of M.A.'s images Vrubel.
Storyteller
Perhaps the most famous paintings expressing the spirit and beauty of Russian fairy tales were the masterpieces of Victor Mikhailovich Vasnetsov (1848-1926). From early childhood, Vasnetsov absorbed the spirituality of the Russian land: following the example of his father, he was going to become a priest. But not having finished one class at the seminary, the future artist listened to the call of the heart and entered the Academy of Arts. Ever since then, he tried all his life to convey to others the magic that he himself felt - the Gray Wolf running with Ivan the Tsarevich through the dense forest, the flight of a fabulous carpet over Russian open spaces, the longing of the younger princess of the underground kingdom.
The richest collection of works by V.M. Vasnetsov can be seen in his house-museum, similar to a fabulous tower.
The artist worked on the famous painting "Athletes" for about twenty years - it became the pinnacle of his work. Three monumental figures of the Russian fellows personify the strength, honor, dignity of the people who serve for the glory of their land.
Pictures familiar from childhood
Creativity A.S. Pushkin was inspired not only by composers. Ilya Yakovlevich Bilibin (1876-1942) after a long work on his own style became the best, canonical illustrator of Pushkin. His style of writing, "Bilibino", consisted of strict lines of graphics, painted with bright watercolors, and an abundance of Russian folk decor.
At first, Russian tales did not interest the artist, and he was engaged in portrait and landscape painting. However, in 1899 at the exhibition he saw a picture of V.M. Vasnetsov's "Bogatyrs" was so impressed by this epic canvas that from that time he devoted his whole life to painting Russian fairy tales.
The namesake of the famous painter, Yuri Alekseevich Vasnetsov (1900-1973) illustrated children's nursery rhymes, jokes and folk songs. His lively and funny pictures have been reprinted in children's books for more than half a century.
