Despite his aristocratic origin and the title of count, Fyodor Petrovich Tolstoy (1783-1873) earned his living by his labor. His family lived extremely modestly, the Tolstoys rented a small house near the Smolensk cemetery.

Zaryanko S.K. "Portrait of the artist and sculptor Fyodor Petrovich Tolstoy,
Vice President of the Academy of Arts. OK. 1850

Luck entered the house in the person of Secretary of State Nikolai Mikhailovich Longinov. He introduced Tolstoy to Empress Elizaveta Alekseevna, who asked the artist to show her his watercolors. One of them, on which a currant branch was drawn, was extremely liked by the Empress. Tolstoy presented the watercolor to her as a gift.

F.P. Tolstoy."Berries of red and white currant" . 1818.

Elizaveta Alekseevna was very pleased, and in response she sent Tolstoy a diamond ring. The need for money forced Tolstoy to sell the ring. This allowed the family to rent a nice house in St. Petersburg. But the story didn't end there. Elizaveta Alekseevna several times ordered Tolstoy to draw currants for her relatives abroad, and each time the artist received an expensive ring for the watercolor. Later, recalling these years, Fedor Petrovich said: “It was hard for me, but my currant helped me out. You can not jokingly say that the whole family ate one currant ... "

In fact, Fedor Petrovich was a medalist. Here are a couple of examples of what he did for a living (as we can see from the above, he did not make very successful money):

People's militia in 1812. 1816. Medallion. Wax

The first step of Emperor Alexander outside Russia in 1813. bas-relief

But as an artist, Fyodor Tolstoy worked in the genre of "still life-dummy". Such still lifes, on the one hand, look rather primitive and at the same time everything on them is so alive that it seems that you can touch and even taste or smell the berries and flowers depicted in the paintings, that a butterfly is about to fly away or flutter birdie.

Tolstoy F.P. Bouquet of flowers, butterfly and bird. 1820

Tolstoy F.P. Flower, butterfly and flies. 1817

Here is how Yu.M. wrote about still lifes of F.P. Tolstoy. Lotman in his work “Still Life in the Perspective of Semiotics”: “...“ At first glance, still lifes of this type may seem either a tribute to primitive naturalism, or something related to extra-artistic illusionism, “tour de force”, demonstrating deft skill and nothing more. Such an idea is erroneous: we are playing on the edge, requiring a sophisticated semiotic sense and testifying to the complex dynamic processes that, as a rule, take place on the periphery of art even before they capture its central spheres. It is the imitation of authenticity that makes the concept of conventionality a conscious problem, the boundaries and measure of which are felt by both the artist and his audience. If you look from this point of view, for example, at F. Tolstoy's watercolor "Flower, Butterfly and Flies", then it is easy to see that on the sheet in front of us the artist collides different types of conventions: a butterfly and a flower are "as if painted", and drops of water in the picture and flies crawling on it and drinking this water, "as if real." Thus the butterfly and the flower become drawings of a drawing, images of an image. In order for the viewer to catch this game, he needs a subtle feeling of semiotic registers, a feeling of a drawing as a non-thing, and a thing as a non-drawing "... "

Tolstoy F.P. Lilac branch and canary. 1819

Tolstoy F.P. A branch of grapes. 1817

A man of extensive and varied knowledge, Tolstoy, among other things, was also interested in botany. The library of the Russian Museum contains an atlas dedicated to flora that once belonged to the artist. Russian empire. Entering creative competition with French artist, whose gouaches depicting flowers were once shown to Tolstoy by Empress Elizaveta Alekseevna, he defined his task as follows: “... with strict clarity, transfer from life to paper the copied flower, as it is, with all the smallest details belonging to this plant ... "

Fyodor Tolstoy had many talents: he was an excellent sculptor and graphic artist, a famous medalist and a unique master of silhouettes. Fyodor Petrovich lived an extraordinary life interesting life 90 years long. And she was alone in his life amazing story associated with red and white currants. This was no ordinary berry. It was a currant nurse! That's what Tolstoy himself called it. Here it is - the same berry. Picturesque.

It's very beautiful and realistic, isn't it? Everything seems to glow from within. And even droplets of water on paper are present. Also painted. These bunches are written by Tolstoy so convincingly that for 200 years now people who look at them have become sour in the mouth and salivate profusely. Well, what can I say - Magic power art!

In his younger years, Count Fyodor Petrovich Tolstoy, you will not believe, was in need. And all because he went against the will of the family and refused the service of the sovereign's man, which his parents had predicted for him. He deliberately rejected a successful military career: after completing his studies at the Naval Cadet Corps, he did not want to become an admiral and chose art. Fyodor Tolstoy was well aware that he would be excommunicated from the house of noble parents, losing the favor of relatives, misunderstanding of influential friends and acquaintances, as well as poverty and deprivation. However, this did not cool down and did not stop the count-artist.

And then one day Fortune brought Fyodor Tolstoy a fateful meeting with the wife of Emperor Alexander I - Elizabeth Alekseevna.

The artist gave the queen his modest still life with two sprigs of red and white currants. The empress liked the drawing so much that she granted the artist from her hand a diamond ring worth one and a half thousand rubles.

Such a generous payment allowed Fyodor Tolstoy to solve many financial difficulties. His family moved from a small rented house near the Smolensk cemetery in St. Petersburg to a new solid mansion.Soon, Empress Elizaveta Alekseevna invited the artist and asked him to draw another such watercolor. And for the new still life, the master again received a precious ring.

It should be noted that Elizaveta Alekseevna was unusually beautiful, smart and refined. When she wanted to surprise her foreign relatives with something new and elegant, each time she ordered Fyodor Tolstoy fresh bunches of currants. And she paid according to the established tradition with jewelry. The sale of berries for diamonds was repeated so many times that the artist lost count of how many currants he painted for Elizaveta Alekseevna and how many rings he received from her. It was a very profitable trade. You can’t sell ordinary currants, and other garden products for so much!

Years later, recalling the beginning of his penniless work, the artist used to say: “It was hard for me, but then my currant rescued me! If it weren’t for her, I don’t know how I would have got out ... You can honestly say that the whole family ate only currants ”.

"Mere imitation of easily perceived objects -
let's take at least flowers and fruits - it can already be brought
to the highest degree of perfection.
The master will become even more significant and brighter,
if in addition to his talent,
will also be an educated botanist.”

With these words I.V. Goethe can preface the story of Russian artist of the first half of XIX century – Fyodor Petrovich Tolstoy (1783-1873). We can talk about this artist for a long time, because using the example of his work, we can touch upon such topics as illusory and naturalism in painting, the subtlety of drawing technique, the formation and development of botanical still life in Russia and Europe, the revival of medal art, etc.
preparing for military career, Tolstoy graduated from the Naval Corps and served in the Navy. But soon he retires - interest in art and excellent abilities led him to the Academy of Arts. Here he used the advice of Orest Kiprensky, studied with the sculptor Ivan Prokofiev. Tolstoy becomes the most famous Russian medalist: he created a series of 21 medallions dedicated to the war of 1812. But in the history of painting, he remained a famous author. still life drawings- "Berries of red and white currants", "Bouquet of flowers, butterfly and bird", etc.
From childhood, Fyodor Petrovich was surrounded by a special atmosphere of amateur art, the artist's daughter, M.F. Kamenskaya, recalled: "His mother harassed landscapes and flowers with a needle and silk on the canvas that they should be amazed." It was flowers and fruits that were considered the easiest and most pleasant topic for drawing. At the turn of the 18th-19th centuries, manuals such as “Rules on drawing flowers and fruits for the benefit and pleasure of the fair sex” began to appear - similar to today's women's magazines needlework. And here amateurish art intersected with academic art, since the main plot of the still life of the Academy of Arts since the 18th century it has been considered "painting of flowers and fruits with insects".
The images of fruit flowers in Tolstoy's work are so attractive in their skill, in their naturalism, that they have become his most famous drawings. Although the artist himself said that he was engaged in them in his free time and did not consider them serious works. But here he was a little cunning: if we ignore the aesthetic value of the works, then, for example, still life "Berries of red and white currants" It also brought tangible income to the artist's family - according to the memoirs of Fyodor Petrovich's daughter: "The whole family ate one currant." The same "currant" brought honor to the artist - the drawing was presented as a gift to Empress Elizabeth Alekseevna, wife of Alexander I.
In fact, still life "Currant"- this is an illusionistic, exact copying of nature, if we return to Goethe's thought - a botanical sketch, but meanwhile, this work evokes feelings in the viewer - tenderness, admiration, understanding of the fragility and beauty of nature, those about which the artist himself spoke like this: “What drawing I will express this pure joy, this bright pleasure that fills my soul and heart in moments when, having cast aside all worries, I carelessly admire the beauty of nature ... ". After reading such reflections of Tolstoy, set out in letters and memoirs, you begin to understand that his “Smorodina” is more than a game with nature or exact copying, it is a subjective vision, a special attitude, an attempt to capture the perishable and eternal beauty nature. This is a kind of "thank you" to the Creator, expressed on a thin landscape sheet ...

Count Fyodor Petrovich Tolstoy(1783-1873) - one of the brightest figures in the history of art and social activities Russia of the 19th century. He possessed a multifaceted range of interests and talents: he was an excellent sculptor and graphic artist, a medalist and a unique master of silhouettes; he tried himself in painting and in the creation of theatrical costumes, in the manufacture of furniture and writing. Fyodor Tolstoy lived an unusually interesting and harmonious life of 90 years. And there was an amazing story in his life connected with the red and white currant-nurse.

https://static.kulturologia.ru/files/u21941/tolstoyu-003.jpg" alt="(!LANG: Medallions in memory of the military events of 1812, 1813, 1814 and 1815. Published in 1838." title="Medallions commemorating the military events of 1812, 1813, 1814 and 1815. Published in 1838." border="0" vspace="5">!}

Giving up his military career in order to devote himself to art, Fyodor Tolstoy was well aware that he would be excommunicated from the house of noble parents, losing the favor of relatives, influential friends and acquaintances, and in a word, poverty and deprivation. However, this did not cool or stop the count.

Fyodor Petrovich, in addition to the medal art, skillfully and scrupulously painted still lifes, which were distinguished by their amazing composition, volume, grace, subtlety of lines and transitional shades.

https://static.kulturologia.ru/files/u21941/tolstoyu-008.jpg" alt="(!LANG: Empress Elizaveta Alekseevna." title="Empress Elizaveta Alekseevna." border="0" vspace="5">!}

And I must say that Elizaveta Alekseevna was unusually beautiful, smart and refined. And when she wanted to surprise her highest relatives abroad with something new and elegant, each time she ordered Fyodor Tolstoy more and more currants for a gift, and for each of which he received a ring. And this was repeated more than once, not twice, but so many that the artist lost count of how many "currants" he painted for Elizaveta Alekseevna and how many rings he received from her.

And every time, recalling the beginning of his artistic career, the artist used to say: “It was hard for me, but then my currant helped me out! If it weren’t for her, I don’t know how I would have got out ... It can be said without joking that the whole family ate one currant.”

https://static.kulturologia.ru/files/u21941/tolstoyu-011.jpg" alt="(!LANG:Dragonfly.

https://static.kulturologia.ru/files/u21941/tolstoyu-015.jpg" alt="A branch of grapes. Still life. (1817). Author: F.P. Tolstoy." title="A branch of grapes. Still life. (1817).

The contribution of Count Tolstoy to the technique of cutting out silhouettes is invaluable. Since in the 18th century only portraits were made in this technique, the master was the first to turn to carving multi-figure compositions on historical, military, and everyday themes. With jewelry precision, he created many works that delight with their sophistication and realism.

https://static.kulturologia.ru/files/u21941/tolstoyu-014.jpg" alt="Napoleon by the fire. Silhouette.

Count Fyodor Petrovich Tolstoy (1783-1873) is one of the brightest figures in the history of art and public activity in Russia in the 19th century. He possessed a multifaceted range of interests and talents: he was an excellent sculptor and graphic artist, a medalist and a unique master of silhouettes; he tried himself in painting and in the creation of theatrical costumes, in the manufacture of furniture and writing. Fyodor Tolstoy lived an unusually interesting and harmonious life of 90 years. And there was an amazing story in his life connected with the red and white currant-nurse.


Portrait of L.P. Tolstoy. (1850).

Tolstoy's path to art, which will become the meaning of his whole life, will be extraordinary and amazing. Being a hereditary count, Fyodor Petrovich was included in the lists of sergeants of the Preobrazhensky Regiment from birth, and when he grew up, he studied at the Naval Cadet Corps. But the craving for drawing was so great that in 1802 the cadet Tolstoy became a volunteer at the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts. And despite the fact that he was predicted to be an admiral, Fedor Petrovich, having resigned, became a student at the Academy. There he showed his talent, especially for sculpture.

After graduating from the Academy of Arts, Fyodor Tolstoy became a bright and original master.
And in 1810 he was appointed a medalist at the St. Petersburg Mint, where he was noted as the best master, who raised the medal art of Russia to a worthy level.

Medallions commemorating the military events of 1812, 1813, 1814 and 1815. Published in 1838.

Giving up his military career in order to devote himself to art, Fyodor Tolstoy was well aware that he would be excommunicated from the house of noble parents, losing the favor of relatives, influential friends and acquaintances, and in a word, poverty and deprivation. However, this did not cool or stop the count.

The first step of Emperor Alexander outside Russia in 1813. bas-relief

Emperor Alexander I. / Elizaveta Alekseevna - wife of Alexander I.

Fyodor Petrovich, in addition to the medal art, skillfully and scrupulously painted still lifes, which were distinguished by their amazing composition, volume, grace, subtlety of lines and transitional shades.

Berries of red and white currants. (1818).

Once presented as a gift to the wife of Emperor Alexander I, a still life with a branch of red and white currants so pleased the Empress that she granted Fyodor Petrovich from her hand a diamond ring worth one and a half thousand rubles. This generous payment allowed the artist to solve many financial difficulties and rent a solid house in St. Petersburg for his family.

Soon, Empress Elizaveta Alekseevna again invited the artist and demanded to draw more of the same currant. And for this still life, the master received again the same precious ring.

Empress Elizaveta Alekseevna.

And I must say that Elizaveta Alekseevna was unusually beautiful, smart and refined. And when she wanted to surprise her highest relatives abroad with something new and elegant, each time she ordered Fyodor Tolstoy more and more currants for a gift, and for each of which he received a ring. And this was repeated more than once, not twice, but so many that the artist lost count of how many "currants" he painted for Elizaveta Alekseevna and how many rings he received from her.

And every time, recalling the beginning of his artistic career, the artist used to say: “It was hard for me, but then my currant rescued me! .

Gooseberry.

Dragonfly.

Still life.

A branch of grapes. Still life. (1817).

The contribution of Count Tolstoy to the technique of cutting out silhouettes is invaluable. Since in the 18th century only portraits were made in this technique, the master was the first to turn to carving multi-figure compositions on historical, military, and everyday themes. With jewelry precision, he created many works that delight with their sophistication and realism.

Napoleon on the battlefield. Silhouette.

Napoleon by the fire. Silhouette.

Inn in Tiflis. 1840s.

Count Fyodor Tolstoy also tried himself in painting household genre.

Family portrait. (1830).

Near the window. Moonlight night.

In the sewing room.

And the count was also vice-president of the Imperial Academy of Arts, privy councilor, was a member of the governing body of Russian Freemasonry, was a member of the secret society "Union of Welfare" as a leader.

And finally, analyzing the genealogical tree of the Tolstoy family, one cannot help but recall the fact that the Russian writer Alexei Konstantinovich Tolstoy was Fyodor Petrovich's nephew, and Leo Nikolayevich Tolstoy was his cousin. A truly famous family, who gave the Russian land, the greatest people.

A.K. Tolstoy. (1817-1875). / L.N. Tolstoy. (1828-1910).

At the beginning of the 18th century, an artist in the position of "Hoffmaler", whose name was Andrei Matveev, served at the court of Catherine II. He was considered a pioneer in the history of secular Russian painting, who created the first self-portrait.