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V. V. Vereshchagin: Artist at War
"A pleasure to read. The balance between the fascinating biographical detail and the larger view of the society is always delicately handled. [Barooshian] makes a compelling case for the stature of the man as a critic of war, a rugged individualist, and a most cosmopolitan representative of the great moral traditions of the Russian 19th-century intelligentsia."--Maria Banerjee, Smith College
V. V. Vereshchagin, the most popular and famous Russian artist in Western Europe and America in the last quarter of the 19th century, dedicated his life and art to opposing violence. Yet today his personal legacy of peace is forgotten. This biography tells for the first time in English the story of Vereshchagin's courage and tenacity in his struggle against the misery of war.
Using historical accounts and the artist's own writings, Barooshian examines Vereshchagin's artistic depiction of war (both historic and contemporary), showing how it underwent a radical transformation in life as well as in art as it matured. He explores the role that war played in the 19th-century idea of progress and devotes one chapter to Vereshchagin's representation of Napoleon's invasion of Russia in 1812. To Vereshchagin and others of the intelligentsia, Russian colonial expansion raised ethical dilemmas; their art was frequently at cross-purposes with the state. Barooshian notes the parallels in this regard between Vereshchagin's and Tolstoy's visions of history.
While this is a book for scholars of history, politics, and art, general readers as well will discover an absorbing personal story of Vereshchagin's travels, experiences in war, continual problems with money and the Russian autocracy, and dealings with patrons and commercial agents.
Vahan D. Barooshian is professor of Russian at Wells College, Aurora, New York. He is the author of Russian Cubo-Futurism, 1910-1930, Brik and Mayakovsky, and The Art of Alexander A. Ivanov and has written numerous articles on Russian and Armenian history, poetry, art, politics, literature, and theater.
V. V. Vereshchagin, the most popular and famous Russian artist in Western Europe and America in the last quarter of the 19th century, dedicated his life and art to opposing violence. Yet today his personal legacy of peace is forgotten. This biography tells for the first time in English the story of Vereshchagin's courage and tenacity in his struggle against the misery of war.
Using historical accounts and the artist's own writings, Barooshian examines Vereshchagin's artistic depiction of war (both historic and contemporary), showing how it underwent a radical transformation in life as well as in art as it matured. He explores the role that war played in the 19th-century idea of progress and devotes one chapter to Vereshchagin's representation of Napoleon's invasion of Russia in 1812. To Vereshchagin and others of the intelligentsia, Russian colonial expansion raised ethical dilemmas; their art was frequently at cross-purposes with the state. Barooshian notes the parallels in this regard between Vereshchagin's and Tolstoy's visions of history.
While this is a book for scholars of history, politics, and art, general readers as well will discover an absorbing personal story of Vereshchagin's travels, experiences in war, continual problems with money and the Russian autocracy, and dealings with patrons and commercial agents.
Vahan D. Barooshian is professor of Russian at Wells College, Aurora, New York. He is the author of Russian Cubo-Futurism, 1910-1930, Brik and Mayakovsky, and The Art of Alexander A. Ivanov and has written numerous articles on Russian and Armenian history, poetry, art, politics, literature, and theater.
- GenresBiography
216 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 1993
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September 8, 2011
I first noticed Vereshchagin's art at the Tretiakov Gallery in Moscow. I find his works depicting Central Asian culture exotic and arresting in the way that we find many images in National Geographic Magazine exotic and arresting. A good example is "The Doors of Tamerlane". And although he has painted numerous depictions of battle, his most famous painting is a clear condemnation of war for conquest.
Interested in this apparent contradiction, I marked this biography (the only one available in English) to read. A fortuitous decision, as Vereshchagin was a compelling, complex artist that lived a fascinating life. He was raised in military schools, but never served as a soldier. Rather, he cultivated his talent for art and accompanied various Russian generals on their conquests of Central Asia and the Balkans. He also nearly perished hiking up into the Indian Himalayas with his entourage, including his wife, to sketch landscapes.
An artist truly innovative in subject matter, Vereshchagin consistently sought to portray the destructiveness and horrors of war. Such paintings made him controversial and even an occasional outcast during a time when a state's esteem was measured by its military conquests. Imagine having to conduct a tour of your exhibit with the Tsar of the Russian Empire, even when he expresses obvious displeasure at a painting depicting a fallen, forgotten Russian soldier ("This will make young men think twice about serving as conscripts!"). Still, this did not stop him from striving to portray war in honest, not romantic, ways.
There is also plenty of adventure to note. Vereshchagin, though philosophically opposed to war, was forced to take up arms on numerous occasions, receiving several citations for bravery. Again, all as an artist. Although uncomfortable with these distinctions, he did not let them prevent him from documenting his subject matter. Indeed, he seemed to embody all the best qualities of Russia: conviction, charity, and resilience.
A highly recommended book, but you must also make it a point to see his paintings in person if you read it. Photographs don't do the works justice!
Interested in this apparent contradiction, I marked this biography (the only one available in English) to read. A fortuitous decision, as Vereshchagin was a compelling, complex artist that lived a fascinating life. He was raised in military schools, but never served as a soldier. Rather, he cultivated his talent for art and accompanied various Russian generals on their conquests of Central Asia and the Balkans. He also nearly perished hiking up into the Indian Himalayas with his entourage, including his wife, to sketch landscapes.
An artist truly innovative in subject matter, Vereshchagin consistently sought to portray the destructiveness and horrors of war. Such paintings made him controversial and even an occasional outcast during a time when a state's esteem was measured by its military conquests. Imagine having to conduct a tour of your exhibit with the Tsar of the Russian Empire, even when he expresses obvious displeasure at a painting depicting a fallen, forgotten Russian soldier ("This will make young men think twice about serving as conscripts!"). Still, this did not stop him from striving to portray war in honest, not romantic, ways.
There is also plenty of adventure to note. Vereshchagin, though philosophically opposed to war, was forced to take up arms on numerous occasions, receiving several citations for bravery. Again, all as an artist. Although uncomfortable with these distinctions, he did not let them prevent him from documenting his subject matter. Indeed, he seemed to embody all the best qualities of Russia: conviction, charity, and resilience.
A highly recommended book, but you must also make it a point to see his paintings in person if you read it. Photographs don't do the works justice!
Displaying 1 of 1 review