Viktor Vasnetsov was born in 1848 and was a Russian artist specializing in the historical and mythological subject matter. He is one of the co-founders of romantic nationalist painting as well as Russian folklore art. He was also prominent in the movement of Russian revivalists.
Vasnetsov grew up in a remote Russian village with his six siblings and priest father. His father was known to be philosophically inclined, and his grandfather was a painter. This influence led to Vasnetsov and one of his brothers becoming excellent painters. His first paintings were of village life and the associated landscapes of his rural upbringing.
Vasnetsov began studying at a seminary at the age of 10. After graduation from the seminary, he auctioned off two paintings to raise enough money to move to Saint Petersburg where he intended to study art. He managed to enroll in the academy in 1868 after failing his first attempt. During this time he avoided mythological and historical subject matter, the very things that he became so well-known for later on in his career.
In 1876 Vasnetsov moved to Paris, where he became entranced with fairy-tale-like subjects. He took these mythological ideas back to Moscow with him in 1877 as he began to paint his depictions of Russian fairy tales. As he was part of a group of Russian realist painters, known as Peredvizhniki, his mythological paintings weren’t accepted at the time.
It was in the 1880s that his work became trendy, and the artist’s reputation and career took off. He was commissioned to design buildings and paint frescos in Kyiv where he lived for five years. This signals his foray into other media for his art, adding architectural and theatrical design to his repertoire.
He was given a noble title in 1912 by Czar Nicholas II and many of the buildings he designed still stand throughout Russia today. Vasnetsov died in Moscow in 1926.
1. Reaper
‘Reaper’ was created in 1867 by Viktor Vasnetsov in Realism style.
2. Russian Proverbs And Sayings
‘Russian proverbs and sayings’ was created in 1867 by Viktor Vasnetsov in Realism style.
3. Portrait Of The Artist Arkhip Kuinji
‘Portrait of the Artist Arkhip Kuinji’ was created in 1869 by Viktor Vasnetsov in Realism style.
4. Merchant Family in The Theatre
‘Merchant family in the theater’ was created in 1869 by Viktor Vasnetsov in Realism style.
5. Porters
‘Porters’ was created in 1870 by Viktor Vasnetsov in Realism style.
6. Away
‘Away’ was created in 1871 by Viktor Vasnetsov in Realism style.
7. Girl With a Bast Basket
‘Girl with a bast basket’ was created in 1870 by Viktor Vasnetsov in Realism style.
8. Grave Digger
‘Grave digger’ was created in 1871 by Viktor Vasnetsov in Realism style.
9. Pharmacist
‘Pharmacist’ was created in 1871 by Viktor Vasnetsov in Realism style.
10. From Dominik
‘From Dominik’ was created in 1874 by Viktor Vasnetsov in Realism style.
11. Tea Drinking in a Tavern
‘Tea drinking in a Tavern’ was created in 1874 by Viktor Vasnetsov in Realism style.
12. Moving House
‘Moving House’ was created in 1876 by Viktor Vasnetsov in Realism style.