Italy, where the historical genre was born, had all the prerequisites for the emergence of this type of painting. The Roman Empire had a very high level of cultural development, and its achievements became the basis of the art of all countries of Western Europe. It is not surprising that it was in Italy during the Renaissance, in the 15th century, that the historical genre in the visual arts arose.

Short story

To understand what art is, it is necessary to take into account the developmental features of the period under consideration. The Renaissance is the heyday of humanistic ideas, which led to interest not only in the human person, but also in civil and political history.

The events of the heroic past of the country and was supposed to reflect the historical genre in the visual arts. Examples include the following: paintings by Andrea Mantegna "The Triumph of Caesar" (1485-1492), various paintings by Paulo Uccello dedicated to the battle of San Romano and others. The achievements of the Renaissance in Italy quickly spread throughout Europe, where the historical genre in the visual arts also began to develop.

European artists of historical painting of the XVII-XVIII centuries

The events of the past attracted masters in Western European countries as well. The development of this direction can be attributed to the XVII century - the heyday of classicism and baroque. It should be noted that it was the historical genre that came to the forefront in artistic culture. All other varieties of fine art for some time gave way to him in importance, since classicism meant the creation, first of all, of heroic images and monumental canvases.

In this style, on a historical theme, Peter Paul Rubens worked (the painting "The Battle of the Greeks with the Amazons", 1619-1620), Nicolas Poussin ("The Rape of the Sabine Women", 1614-1615), Jacques-Louis David, who wrote both ancient and modern themes. These works are distinguished by their pathos spirit, heroic poses, sublime facial expressions and gestures. In their composition, the canvases resembled the action of ancient plays and were distinguished by some theatrical pomposity. This direction includes paintings written on gospel stories. For example, Harmens created the painting The Return of the Prodigal Son (1669).

History painting in Europe in the first half of the 19th century

Classicism and baroque soon gave way to a new cultural trend - romanticism. Representatives of this trend moved away from the heroic interpretation of the past, focusing on the emotional component. The artists set out to create such images in order to evoke sympathy and empathy from the audience. The historical genre in painting received a completely different design, since the theme of human experiences and emotions came to the fore. An example is the painting by Eugene Delacroix "Massacre on the island of Chios", written in 1826. Historical motifs can also be found in the work of another prominent Honore Daumier: the painting "Rebellion" (1848).

Western European historical painting of the period of romanticism

In the second half of the 19th century, the historical genre in the visual arts underwent significant changes. This is due to the emergence of a new direction - realism. Its representatives sought to create more believable images and plots. This trend can be attributed to the work of Adolf von Menzel, who created in 1850 a series of paintings dedicated to the era of Frederick the Great. Interest in history in this era is largely due to the numerous revolutions that shook Europe at that time. The centers of uprisings broke out in Italy, France, Germany. Therefore, scientists, artists, writers were looking for answers to the present in the past, which explains the emergence of realism in culture.

The emergence of the Russian historical genre in painting

The domestic history of art is also interesting for analysis. The origins, types and genres in Russia are a topic for a separate discussion, since our culture has borrowed a lot from European art. The era of classicism in the expanses of the motherland dates back to the 18th century: it was at this time that domestic artists turned to the events of the past in their works.

The founder of the historical genre of Russian fine art is Anton Pavlovich Losenko. His pen belongs to the past of Ancient Russia (“Vladimir and Rogneda”, 1770) and canvases dedicated to ancient subjects. His followers were Ivan Akimov, who also turned to the events of Kievan Rus, Pyotr Sokolov, who depicted mythological images, Grigory Ugryumov, who turned to the history of the 13th century. These works, as well as European paintings in the style of classicism, are distinguished by the loftiness of images and plots.

Historical themes in Russian painting in 1800-1850

Genres in the visual arts were the most diverse, however, in connection with the development of academicism, in the first half of the century, historical subjects occupied the dominant direction in artistic culture. Artists of this trend in many respects continued the traditions of classicism, choosing heroic facts from the past as an object for their works. The historical genre in the visual arts, whose paintings were especially expressive, enjoyed the greatest popularity among both the intelligentsia and the mass public.

This direction can be attributed to the work of Anton Ivanov "The feat of a young Kyivian during the siege of Kyiv by the Pechenegs in 968" (1810), Alexei Yegorov "Rest on the flight to Egypt" (1830). At the same time, a new direction arose - romanticism, whose representatives created vivid, emotional images, saturated with psychological tension. For example, Karl Pavlovich Bryullov, who created the famous canvas about the death of Pompeii, Fedor Antonovich Bruni and Alexander Andreevich Ivanov, who wrote biblical stories.

Historical plots in the works of authors of the last quarter of a century

In the second half of the 19th century, painters began to draw scenes from the history of Russia. A number of paintings appear in art, dedicated to certain events from the past of our country. The historical genre in the visual arts is represented by the following canvases: Ilya Repin’s paintings “Princess Sophia in the Novodevichy Convent” (1879) and “Ivan the Terrible Kills His Son” (1884), the works of Vasily Surikov, who turned to the most dramatic events in the history of Russia in the 18th century. These works are distinguished both by the brilliance and expressiveness of the images, and the background of the situation.

Historical everyday genre of fine arts

Domestic artists began to turn not only to political events, but also to the image of the everyday life of Russian people. Therefore, a prominent place in painting was occupied by the so-called everyday historical genre. The fine arts of this trend gained great popularity among the educated public of that time.

As an example, we can name the works of the following authors: Vyacheslav Schwartz, who created a picture about the royal hunt, Konstantin Makovsky, who painted canvases about the Moscow kingdom in the 17th century. The historical everyday theme was of great importance in the work of representatives of the association "World of Art". A feature of their paintings was the reproduction of pomp and solemnity, but with a touch of sadness (Albert Benois, depicting the pompous exits of Russian emperors and empresses in the 18th century, Eugene Lansere, depicting the luxurious atmosphere at the court, Valentin Serov, who painted royal amusements).

In Soviet times, artists quite often turned to the events of Russia's past. At the same time, they revived the traditions of academism of the 19th century, depicting heroic episodes from Russian history. For example, the artist V. E. Popkov is considered the founder of the “severe style” in Soviet painting (a painting depicting the construction of a hydroelectric power station). Of particular importance in his work is the theme of the Great Patriotic War ("Mezen Widows", 1965-1968). And the pen of T. E. Nazarenko belongs to the work on which you can see turning points: the uprisings of Pugachev, the Decembrists.

Contemporary artists show great interest in the history of Russia. I. S. Glazunov became famous for creating monumental canvases dedicated to understanding the past of our country: a work that symbolically shows the fate of the author, “Russia, wake up!” (1994) and others.

So, summing up, we can state that historical themes occupied a very prominent place both in European fine arts and in Russian painting. Truthfulness and accuracy, drama and solemnity have always distinguished the historical genre. Everyone conveys expression, but this style is the leader.

Works of historical painting cannot be concluded within clear boundaries dictated by the genre. In some cases, a portrait, landscape or everyday scene rises to the level of historical generalization, thus transforming into a pictorial canvas of historical content. For example, it is rather difficult to accurately classify by genre such paintings as “Ceremonial Portrait of Peter I” by Natya, “Religious Procession in the Kursk Governorate”, written by I. Repin.

On the one hand, this is just a portrait and an everyday scene, but on the other hand, these canvases reflect real historical events. The origin of historical themes in Russian painting began with icon painting. It is on icons that religious subjects are often intertwined with genuine historical events. An example of such icons can be the “Miracle of the Sign” (second half of the 15th century) with scenes of the defense of Novgorod, or the “Militant Church” (mid-16th century), which depicts scenes of Ivan the Terrible’s campaign against Kazan. The book miniatures of the "Focal Chronicle" and "The Life of Sergius of Radonezh" demonstrate a gradual transition to a realistic description of historical events, which in these works are the semantic dominant.

In Russia, the formation of historical painting as an independent genre of fine arts should be attributed to the second half of the 18th century. This was due to the creation of the Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg. The first creations of the masters of the Russian historical school of painting were extremely distant from the historical truth. Often, only the title of the picture (usually extremely long) helped to establish to which country and time the depicted event was related. Consider the painting by I. Akimov “Grand Duke Svyatoslav kissing his mother and children on his return from the Danube to Kyiv” (1773). On this canvas, the prince is dressed in antique armor and a rich helmet, and the children are depicted in chitons, and, of course, there is nothing actually historical (with the exception of the fact of the return of Prince Svyatoslav) in the picture. The same pseudo-historical direction is distinguished by the work of A. Losenko “Grand Duke Vladimir informs his wife Rogneda about the victory he won over her father Rogvold, Prince of Polotsk” (1770). In this picture, there are the same magnificent clothes and draperies, theatrical poses, borrowed from the classical tragedies that were popular at that time. However, over time, significant changes have taken place in the traditions of the Russian historical genre. This was facilitated by the approval of new aesthetic ideas and the direction of realism.

The main distinguishing feature of the new stage is that real events are transmitted in the picture with a high degree of historical accuracy. Paintings by K. Flavitsky “Princess Tarakanova in the Peter and Paul Fortress during a flood” (1864), I. Repin “Ivan the Terrible and his son Ivan” (1885), N. Ge “Peter interrogates Tsarevich Alexei” (1871) are rightfully considered the brightest examples a new stage in the development of the historical genre in Russia. The crowning achievement of Russian historical painting is the work of V. Surikov. His world-famous works The Morning of the Streltsy Execution (1881), Boyar Morozova (1887), Ermak's Conquest of Siberia (1895), Suvorov's Crossing the Alps (1899) have a tremendous impact on the viewer. Each of these paintings touches on a huge layer of Russian history and forces the viewer to think deeply and seriously about what they see, and not just admiringly look at the image.

Since the beginning of the 20th century, the historical theme in the work of Russian painters has acquired a symbolic interpretation. But still, the traditions of realism in the Russian school of painting were so great that even such adherents of romantic fiction as A. Benois, K. Somov, M. Vrubel and N. Roerich in their "court scenes" and "historical landscapes" relied on everyday realism and a sense of the originality of the depicted time. The historical genre of painting in Soviet fine arts acquired a completely new character. At this time, the clearly expressed ideological component of the plot becomes the fundamental criterion of the master's creative doctrine.

This period is most clearly characterized by the works of I. Shadr “Cobblestone - the weapon of the proletariat” (1927), A. Gerasimov “Lenin on the podium” (1929), A. Deineka “Defense of Petrograd” (1928), B. Ioganson “Interrogation of the Communists” ( 1933). The depiction by artists of the events of the distant past was not encouraged by the employees of the apparatus of the state machine. And only during the Great Patriotic War did the patriotic upsurge that engulfed the entire people prompted painters to create monumental canvases in which valiant moments in the history of Ancient Russia were sung. The paintings of P. Korin “Alexander Nevsky” (1942), M. Avilov “Duel of Peresvet with Chelubey” (1943), A. Bubnov “Morning on the Kulikovo Field” (1943) are deeply imbued with courage and civic pathos of heroic events. However, in subsequent periods, the traditions of historical painting in the Soviet fine arts, freed from ideological dogmas and norms, were again lost.

In the picture, draw a boat and boyars, as in Pushkin's fairy tales or about the scarlet flower.

There are boats on the blue sea. There are three boyars on the shore. From the bridge from the boat to the shore, the peasants are demolishing overseas goods. Drawing on the theme of trade in antiquity. Drawing of an ancient temple, drawing of a historical event, drawing of a portrait of a hero of a great historical battle.





Theme Battle of Borodino. Hussars at rest, a portrait of a hussar, a portrait of Kutuzov, a battle scene.





Drawing about the Great Patriotic War. Air battle. In the sky black from smoke - draw a gray background of the sky and curls, or shading over the entire selected area with black, smoke.

Two planes are flying towards each other.



Drawing a historical theme for school occupation is not an easy one. Mostly historical pictures with people come to mind. But if you don’t know how to draw people, and for example, you draw ships, trains, architectural structures, nature wonderfully, then a picture on a historical theme will also turn out to be very good.

Pictures can be drawn on famous historical events and dates.

Or just draw a picture from the life of people of the past.

For example, a wooden church.



But most of all I was struck by this children's drawing on a historical theme.

HISTORICAL GENRE, one of the main genres of fine art, is dedicated to historical events of the past and present, socially significant phenomena in the history of peoples. Examples of social prowess, dramatic conflicts of historical forces find artistic expression in the historical genre. The depiction of historical events has long been associated with myths, folklore and religious legends. Actually the historical genre was formed in the Renaissance, but only in the 19th century. finally separated from the allegorical and religious genres.

Surikov Vasily Ivanovich () Artist-painter, draftsman, teacher, portrait painter, master of the historical genre, the first Russian historical realist painter.

Repin Ilya Efimovich Russian painter and writer. Born in Kuokkala, Finland, now Repino, Leningrad Region

Ivan the Terrible kills his son, 1870

"The Cossacks write a letter to the Turkish Sultan", 1880

"Heroes" 1898

"After the battle of Igor Svyatoslavovich with the Polovtsy" 1880

"Tsar Ivan the Terrible" 1897

"The Knight at the Crossroads" 1878 Russian Museum, St. Petersburg

Ge Nikolay Nikolaevich Born in Voronezh An outstanding master of portraiture, plot, historical and religious painting, who updated its language on the eve of symbolism and avant-garde.

"Peter I interrogates Tsarevich Alexei Petrovich in Peterhof" 1871

"Judgement of King Solomon" 1854

Karl Bryullov () Karl Pavlovich Bryullov is an outstanding Russian historical painter, portrait painter, landscape painter, author of monumental paintings; honorary award winner

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Creating pencil drawings for beginners can seem like something difficult and impossible. But trust me, it's pretty easy, even if it's the very first drawings in your life. Before explaining the whole process, how to do pencil drawings step by step, it is worth plunging into history.

A little history of the appearance of drawings

From the sixteenth century A.D. graphite pencil began to be widely used by people after, by chance, natural graphite was discovered in England in the town of Cumberland in places torn out by a hurricane. Subsequently, the evolution of the use of this material led us to such an interesting drawing tool as a pencil. It received its name from the Turkic families of languages, where “kara” means black, and “dash” means stone. And although this tool was used earlier only for drawing sketch lines and outlines of a drawing, today you can see beautiful pencil drawings that depict 3D illustrations, portraits of world famous people, tattoos, graffiti, animals, etc. Of course, meanwhile how to depict a monosyllabic figure, for example, a ball, and there is a big difference in how to depict a person's face with certain emotions. After all, this is a matter of professionalism. But any beginner can create noteworthy illustrations if they start by doing pencil drawings step by step, step by step.

How to draw eyes (video)

What is useful for drawing with a pencil

To get started with the tool, a simple hard pencil, a black pen, and a soft pencil can come in handy. The pen is used to highlight deep shadows and blacker details of the drawing, for example, if you are drawing a bird, then the eye will need to be highlighted with a pen. To shade the strokes, ordinary scraps of paper are used, with which the drawing is rubbed and individual strokes merge into shades of gray, giving naturalness and life to the picture.

Why pencil drawings in stages?

Unlike oil, pencil can always be erased and corrected. Therefore, drawings begin to be made with primitive figures. To draw a face, draw an oval that describes the outline of a person's head. Then proportionally divide it into seven parts from the chin to the top of the head. And then the lips are marked with strokes, which start from the end of the lower part. The tip of the nose is drawn at the end of the second part, and the eyes are in the fourth part of the face. But for a professional portrait painter who draws with a pencil, there are other guidelines. They know that exactly the same eye could fit between the eyes of each person, and no more and no less. What unit of proportion can be taken as the width of the eye, and this will be the same distance as one of the seven parts into which the oval of the face is divided.

What difficulties may lie in wait for us

One of the complex objects is the human hand. There are entire books that describe how you can do this. pencil drawings step by step. But if you understand the technique, it all seems quite simple. The palm is a flat square shape, slightly curved outward. Draw the same semi-square fingers, consisting of separate segments. Then everything is softened and rounded, shadows are applied, shaded and voila - the picture is ready.

How to start drawing with a pencil?

Of course, if you just want to learn how to draw a little, you can start with animals.
To draw a rabbit, you can limit yourself to three ovals. Of which a large oval is the torso, a small oval inside the large one is the hind leg and one more is the head. The same method can be used to depict many other smaller brothers of ours.

An important step on the way to a quality pencil drawing

An important step on the way to a quality pencil drawing is hatching and subsequent shading. Circular hatching, which is applied in small circular motions, is very good for painting skin and various similar textures. There are also long and cross hatches, the names of which are self-explanatory. Rough hatching is applied with a sharpened "spatula" pencil lead and is suitable for sketching and painting over large areas. Well, black shading can be applied in different directions with very soft pencils, such as 6B, 7B. It is needed to depict the strongest shadows.

How to draw a 3D drawing (video)

How to Feather Hatching?

You can shade the hatching, as mentioned above, with a piece of paper. But there are other ways too. For example, a finger, a makeup brush, a piece of rolled paper with a cut off tip, and even a stick for the ears! What experienced artists of this genre just do not contrive

Completion:

So, from the considered steps, the following can be distinguished: selection of the theme of the drawing, a schematic representation of the object using primitive figures, hatching and subsequent shading. And you can be sure that over time your experience will increase and a simple pencil and improvised shading tools can be replaced by professional ones. Who knows, maybe in this genre you will become a great artist, and the whole art world will recognize you!