Karl Pavlovich Bryullov is a talented artist of the 19th century, a master of historical genre and portraiture, the author of a monumental painting entitled "The Last Day of Pompeii". It is interesting that during his lifetime Bryullov received fame and recognition, not only in the Russian Empire, but also in Europe.
Years of apprenticeship and stay in Italy
Karl Bryullov was born in 1899 in St. Petersburg in the family of the architect Pavel Bryullo, a Frenchman by birth. At the age of nine, Karl became a student of the Academy of Arts. And here, talent was very quickly discerned in him - his ability to turn banal sketches into completed paintings astounded him.
In 1821, Karl Pavlovich graduated from the Academy with a gold medal. He was given it for a biblical-themed painting “The Appearance of Three Angels to Abraham at the Mamvrian Oak”. A year later, a talented young man had the opportunity to go to Italy and continue his education at the expense of patrons. On the Apennine Peninsula, he studied artists of the Renaissance and ancient art. The Italian nature of Bryullov fascinated, and as a result he lived in this country for thirteen years - until 1835.
In the twenties, the artist created, for example, such paintings as “Italian Morning”, “Noon”, “Interrupted Date”, “The Dream of Grandmother and Granddaughter”. These canvases are characterized by an abundance of sunlight and warm colors, in them the painter unambiguously glorifies youth and beauty.
The success of The Last Day of Pompeii and relocation to St. Petersburg
In 1827, Karl Bryullov visited the excavations of the ancient city of Pompeii, which was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in the 1st century AD. Inspired by what he saw, Bryullov began work on his main creation - the painting "The Last Day of Pompeii". He painted this picture for a long time - from 1830 to 1833. And here the painter was able to express the idea of a person's ability to maintain dignity even in the face of death. And this canvas stood out among others in that it was not a separate person, but a whole mass of people at the time of the disaster.
"The Last Day of Pompeii" made a splash in the world of fine art. Soon, this painting was also seen by Emperor Nicholas I. It impressed the autocrat, and he wished to personally meet with the famous artist. In 1836, Bryullov finally returned to his native Petersburg. He was immediately made a professor at the Academy of Arts and put in charge of the so-called class of historical painting. At the same time, Bryullov continued to paint paintings, in particular, portraits of senior persons.
