Ivan Ivanovich Shishkin

Russian landscape painting
of the XIX century constitutes a
significant chapter in the history of Russian culture.

The flowering of realist art in the second half of the XIX century served to deepen the content of
landscape painting: the artists of the genre found new means of expression as they turned their efforts to create a truly Russian image of nature.

The best and brightest period in the development of Russian art is closely connected with the name of Ivan Ivanovich Shishkin

Ivan Shishkin, the artist’s father.
Darya Shishkina,
the artist’s mother.
Ivan Ivanovich Shishkin
was born on January 13, 1832 in Yelabuga, a small town on the banks of the Kama river. His father, Ivan Vasilyevich Shishkin, engaged in archaeology and was a member of the Moscow Archaeological Society. Under the influence of his father the future artist learned to appreciate the history and scenic beauty of his native land deeply, and to love the picturesque banks of the Kama and the endless forests of Viatka Province.

In 1852 Shishkin entered Moscow art school.
After graduating from it in 1856 he entered St. Petersburg Academy of Fine Arts.
In 1857 Ivan Shishkin was awarded one of the highest academy prizes, the silver medal in drawing.
He graduated from the academy with a gold medal and a three-year scholarship to study abroad.

In 1870 he became one of the founders of the society for traveling arts exhibitions. This was a union of painters of realistic school. Among them were the country’s best artists: Repin, Suricov, Kramskoy and many others.

Oak grove Pine Forest in Viatka Province
Rye Winter

Shishkin was the first Russian landscapist in the second half of the nineteenth century to attach such tremendous significance
to the plein-air study.

There are many interesting galleries in our country.
The Tretyakov Gallery is one of the most famous and well-known picture galleries in our country and all over the world. The Gallery has collections of Russian and Soviet art.
The museum was founded by Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov. He had been collecting pictures for 40 years and had a rich collection of Russian paintings.

The first works in Tretyakov’s collection were the paintings of the “Peredvizhniki”.
The collector bought the paintings
“Morning in a Pine Forest” by Shishkin
“Ivan Tsarevich on the Grey Wolf” by Vasnetsov.

Ivan Ivanovich Shishkin, the great Russian artist, was one of the first painters of the Russian landscape to reveal its beauty. He is a real poet of the Russian forest.

Ivan Ivanovich Shishkin influence over lyrical landscape painters can’t be overestimated. His deep feeling for nature, love for his native land have won the love and gratitude of people.