Nikolai Ge, born in 1831, was a Russian painter and Russian symbolist. He is most well known for his artwork on historical and religious elements. Ge grew up in a Russian noble family, so his life was one of wealth and luxury. Ge studied mathematics and physics first at Kyiv University and later at Saint Petersburg University.
Nikolai Ge decided to give up his career in science in 1850 and chose instead to study at the Imperial Academy of Arts in Saint Petersburg. He graduated in 1857 with a gold medal for one of the paintings he produced during this time. According to the artist, his work over this period was strongly influenced by a Russian painter that was pivotal in the transition of Russian art from neoclassicism to romanticism.
The gold medal he received upon graduation secured him a scholarship which allowed him to travel extensively around Europe. In 1860 he settled in Italy, and this is where he produced a version of The Last Supper, using a photograph as inspiration for the central figure of his piece. This is the first recorded incident of a photograph being used to inform art. This piece made such an impression that Ge was made a professor at the Imperial Academy of Arts.
Throughout his career, Ge had a mixture of successes and failures with his art. This ultimately led to him returning to Saint Petersburg in 1870 and choosing mostly history as his subject matter. His cycle of wins and losses continued until he declared that men should make a living from farming and not art.
He moved to a small farm in present-day Ukraine, and in the early 1880s, returned to painting portraits and religious scenes. Ge died on his farm in 1894 and a large portion of his work has been lost to time.
1. Leila And Khaji – Abrek
‘Leila and Khaji-Abrek’ was created in 1852 by Nikolai Ge in Romanticism style.
2. Death Of Virginia, Study
‘Death of Virginia, Study’ was created in 1857 by Nikolai Ge in Romanticism style.
3. Portrait Of Piotr Zabela
‘Portrait of Piotr Zabela’ was created in 1856 by Nikolai Ge in Realism style.
4. Love Of Vestal
‘love of Vestal’ was created in 1857 by Nikolai Ge in Romanticism style.
5. Witch Of Endor
‘Witch of Endor’ was created in 1857 by Nikolai Ge in Academicism style.
6. Bridge In Viko
‘Bridge in Viko’ was created in 1858 by Nikolai Ge in Realism style.
7. Florence
‘Florence’ was created in 1859 by Nikolai Ge in Realism style.
8. Vineyard At Vico
‘Vineyard at Vico’ was created in 1858 by Nikolai Ge in Realism style.
9. Returning From The Burial Of Christ
‘Returning from the burial of Christ’ was created in 1859 by Nikolai Ge in Realism style.
10. Frascati Clouds
‘Frascati Clouds’ was created in 1859 by Nikolai Ge in Realism style.
11. Death Of Imelda Lambertatstsi
‘Death of Imelda Lambertatstsi’ was created in 1860 by Nikolai Ge in Realism style.
12. Bay In Livorno. Sunset
‘Bay in Livorno. sunset’ was created in 1862 by Nikolai Ge in Realism style.
13. Last Supper
‘Last Supper’ was created in 1863 by Nikolai Ge in Realism style.
14. Oak Grove At San Terenzo
‘Oak Grove at San Terenzo’ was created in 1867 by Nikolai Ge in Realism style.
15. Loading Marble
‘Loading marble’ was created in 1868 by Nikolai Ge in Realism style.