Nikitin Ivan Nikitich (1680-1742)

Ivan Nikitich Nikitin - “Master of Personal Affairs”, favorite artist of Peter I, the subject of his patriotic pride in front of foreigners, “so that they know that there are good craftsmen from our people.” And Peter was not mistaken: "the painter Ivan" was the first Russian portrait painter of the European level and in the European sense of the word.

IN Nikitin came from a family of Moscow clergy. Initial art education received, probably, in the Moscow Armory and engraving workshop under it under the guidance of the Dutch engraver A. Shkhonebek. In 1711, together with the engraving workshop, he was transferred to St. Petersburg. Apparently, he learned to paint portraits on his own, studying and copying the works of foreign masters available in Russia. Thanks to his talent (and perhaps to relatives who served in the court churches), Nikitin quickly took a strong position at court. Peter the Great noticed his abilities and apprenticed him to I.G. Dangauer

In the early (before 1716) works of the artist, there is a tangible connection with parsuns - Russian portraits of the late 17th century, with their harsh and fractional writing, deaf dark backgrounds, flatness of the image, lack of spatial depth and conventionality in the distribution of light and shadows. At the same time, they have an undoubted compositional skill, and the ability to effectively drape a figure, convey the texture of various materials, harmoniously coordinate rich color spots. But the main thing is that these portraits leave a feeling of some special realistic persuasiveness and psychological authenticity. Nikitin is completely alien to flattery, common for formal portraits.

In 1716-20. I.N. Nikitin together with the younger brother Roman, also a painter, is in Italy. They visited Florence, where they studied under the guidance of Tommaso Redi, Venice and Rome. Roman Nikitin, moreover, worked in Paris, with N. Largillière. From Italy, I.N. Nikitin really returned as a master. He got rid of the flaws of the drawing and conventions early works, but retained its main features: general realism painting and directness of psychological characteristics, a rather dark and rich color, which is dominated by warm shades. Unfortunately, this can be judged by the very few works that have come down to us.

He painted portraits of the Emperor himself (several times), his wife, Grand Duchesses Anna, Elizabeth and Natalia, and many other dignitaries. The artist was familiar with the techniques of the dominant style of the era - rococo, light and playful, but used them only when it really corresponded to the character of the model, as in the portrait of the young baron S.G. Stroganov (1726). But perhaps the best work Nikitin, in terms of the beauty of painting, in terms of the depth and complexity of the psychological characteristics, is “Portrait of a Floor Hetman” (1720s).
In 1725, Nikitin painted for the last time from the life of the tsar. "Peter 1 on his deathbed" (in the Museum of the Academy of Arts) - in essence, a large sketch, performed freely, but solid, thoughtful and monumental.
In the reign of Catherine I, he settled in Moscow, where his brother, who returned from abroad a little later, was mainly engaged in church painting.

In 1732, Ivan Nikitin, together with the brothers Roman and Herodion (the archpriest of the Archangel Cathedral in Moscow), was arrested on charges of distributing libels against the vice-president of the Holy Synod Feofan Prokopovich, by the way, also a nominee and associate of Peter. Perhaps this was indirectly facilitated by the unsuccessful marriage of the artist and the subsequent divorce: relatives ex-wife tried in every possible way to harm Nikitin. Yes, and so many did not like him for his direct and independent disposition. After five years in the casemates of the Peter and Paul Fortress, interrogations and torture, the brothers are sent into exile. Ivan and Roman ended up in Tobolsk. They waited for rehabilitation after the death of Empress Anna Ioannovna in 1741. But the elderly and sick artist did not return to his native Moscow. He probably died somewhere on the way to her. Roman Nikitin died at the end of 1753 or at the beginning of 1754.

I. N. Nikitin (Mid-1680s - not earlier than 1742) - "Personal affairs master", favorite artist of Peter I, the subject of his patriotic pride in front of foreigners, "so that they know that there are good craftsmen from our people." And Peter was not mistaken: "the painter Ivan" was the first Russian portrait painter of the European level and in the European sense of the word.

IN Nikitin came from a family of Moscow clergy. He probably received his initial artistic education at the Moscow Armory and an engraving workshop under it under the guidance of the Dutch engraver A. Shkhonebek. In 1711, together with the engraving workshop, he was transferred to St. Petersburg. Apparently, he learned to paint portraits on his own, studying and copying the works of foreign masters available in Russia. Thanks to his talent (and perhaps to relatives who served in the court churches), Nikitin quickly took a strong position at court. Peter the Great noticed his abilities and apprenticed him to I.G. Dangauer

In the early (until 1716) works of the artist, there is a tangible connection with parsuns - Russian portraits of the late 15th century, with their harsh and fractional writing, deaf dark backgrounds, flatness of the image, lack of spatial depth and conventionality in the distribution of light and shadows. At the same time, they have an undoubted compositional skill, and the ability to effectively drape a figure, convey the texture of various materials, harmoniously coordinate rich color spots. But the main thing is that these portraits leave a feeling of some special realistic persuasiveness and psychological authenticity. Nikitin is completely alien to flattery, common for formal portraits.
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In 1716-20. IN Nikitin, together with his younger brother Roman, also a painter, is in Italy. They visited Florence, where they studied under the guidance of Tommaso Redi, Venice and Rome. Roman Nikitin, moreover, worked in Paris, with N. Largilier. From Italy, I. N. Nikitin really returned as a master. He got rid of the shortcomings of the drawing and the conventions of his early works, but retained his main features: the general realism of painting and the directness of psychological characteristics, a rather dark and rich color scheme, in which warm shades predominate. Unfortunately, this can be judged by the very few works that have come down to us.
He painted portraits of the Emperor himself (several times), his wife, Grand Duchesses Anna, Elizabeth and Natalia, and many other dignitaries. The artist was familiar with the techniques of the dominant style of the era - rococo, light and playful, but used them only when it really corresponded to the character of the model, as in the portrait of the young baron S.G. Stroganov (1726). But perhaps the best work of Nikitin in terms of the beauty of painting, in terms of depth and complexity of psychological characteristics is “Portrait of a Floor Hetman” (1720s).
In 1725, Nikitin painted for the last time from the life of the tsar. "Peter 1 on his deathbed" (in the Museum of the Academy of Arts) - in essence, a large sketch, performed freely, but solid, thoughtful and monumental.
In the reign of Catherine I, he settled in Moscow, where his brother, who returned from abroad a little later, was mainly engaged in church painting.

In 1732, Ivan Nikitin, together with the brothers Roman and Herodion (the archpriest of the Archangel Cathedral in Moscow), was arrested on charges of distributing libels against the vice-president of the Holy Synod Feofan Prokopovich, by the way, also a nominee and associate of Peter. Perhaps this was indirectly facilitated by the unsuccessful marriage of the artist and the subsequent divorce: the relatives of the ex-wife tried in every possible way to harm Nikitin. Yes, and so many did not like him for his direct and independent disposition. After five years in the casemates of the Peter and Paul Fortress, interrogations and torture, the brothers are sent into exile. Ivan and Roman ended up in Tobolsk. They waited for rehabilitation after the death of Empress Anna Ioannovna in 1741. But the elderly and sick artist did not return to his native Moscow. He probably died somewhere on the way to her. Roman Nikitin died at the end of 1753 or at the beginning of 1754.

Nikitin Ivan Nikitich (1680-1742)

Ivan Nikitich Nikitin - “Master of Personal Affairs”, favorite artist of Peter I, the subject of his patriotic pride in front of foreigners, “so that they know that there are good craftsmen from our people.” And Peter was not mistaken: "the painter Ivan" was the first Russian portrait painter of the European level and in the European sense of the word.

IN Nikitin came from a family of Moscow clergy. He probably received his initial artistic education at the Moscow Armory and an engraving workshop under it under the guidance of the Dutch engraver A. Shkhonebek. In 1711, together with the engraving workshop, he was transferred to St. Petersburg. Apparently, he learned to paint portraits on his own, studying and copying the works of foreign masters available in Russia. Thanks to his talent (and perhaps to relatives who served in the court churches), Nikitin quickly took a strong position at court. Peter the Great noticed his abilities and apprenticed him to I.G. Dangauer

In the early (before 1716) works of the artist, there is a tangible connection with parsuns - Russian portraits of the late 17th century, with their harsh and fractional writing, deaf dark backgrounds, flatness of the image, lack of spatial depth and conventionality in the distribution of light and shadows. At the same time, they have an undoubted compositional skill, and the ability to effectively drape a figure, convey the texture of various materials, harmoniously coordinate rich color spots. But the main thing is that these portraits leave a feeling of some special realistic persuasiveness and psychological authenticity. Nikitin is completely alien to flattery, common for formal portraits.

In 1716-20. IN Nikitin, together with his younger brother Roman, also a painter, is in Italy. They visited Florence, where they studied under the guidance of Tommaso Redi, Venice and Rome. Roman Nikitin, moreover, worked in Paris, with N. Largillière. From Italy, I.N. Nikitin really returned as a master. He got rid of the shortcomings of the drawing and the conventions of his early works, but retained his main features: the general realism of painting and the directness of psychological characteristics, a rather dark and rich color scheme, in which warm shades predominate. Unfortunately, this can be judged by the very few works that have come down to us.

He painted portraits of the Emperor himself (several times), his wife, Grand Duchesses Anna, Elizabeth and Natalia, and many other dignitaries. The artist was familiar with the techniques of the dominant style of the era - rococo, light and playful, but used them only when it really corresponded to the character of the model, as in the portrait of the young baron S.G. Stroganov (1726). But perhaps the best work of Nikitin in terms of the beauty of painting, in terms of depth and complexity of psychological characteristics is “Portrait of a Floor Hetman” (1720s). In 1725, Nikitin painted for the last time from the life of the tsar. "Peter 1 on his deathbed" (in the Museum of the Academy of Arts) - in essence, a large sketch, performed freely, but solid, thoughtful and monumental. In the reign of Catherine I, he settled in Moscow, where his brother, who returned from abroad a little later, was mainly engaged in church painting.

In 1732, Ivan Nikitin, together with the brothers Roman and Herodion (the archpriest of the Archangel Cathedral in Moscow), was arrested on charges of distributing libels against the vice-president of the Holy Synod Feofan Prokopovich, by the way, also a nominee and associate of Peter. Perhaps this was indirectly facilitated by the unsuccessful marriage of the artist and the subsequent divorce: the relatives of the ex-wife tried in every possible way to harm Nikitin. Yes, and so many did not like him for his direct and independent disposition. After five years in the casemates of the Peter and Paul Fortress, interrogations and torture, the brothers are sent into exile. Ivan and Roman ended up in Tobolsk. They waited for rehabilitation after the death of Empress Anna Ioannovna in 1741. But the elderly and sick artist did not return to his native Moscow. He probably died somewhere on the way to her. Roman Nikitin died at the end of 1753 or at the beginning of 1754.

Artist's paintings

Peter I on his deathbed

Portrait of Anna Petrovna, daughter of Peter

Portrait of Elizabeth Petrovna as a child

Portrait of Maria Yakovlevna Stroganova

Portrait of Peter I.

Portrait of Peter I

Portrait of Count S. G. Stroganov

Portrait of Empress Catherine I

Ivan Nikitich Nikitin (circa 1690 - not earlier than 1742) - Russian portrait painter, founder of the Russian portrait school of the 18th century.

Biography of Ivan Nikitin

Born in Moscow, son of priest Nikita Nikitin, who served in Izmailovo, brother of priest Irodion Nikitin, later archpriest of the Archangel Cathedral in the Kremlin, and painter Roman Nikitin.

He studied in Moscow, apparently at the Armory Chamber, possibly under the guidance of the Dutchman Shkhonebek in an engraving workshop.

In 1711 he was transferred to St. Petersburg, studied with Johann Tannauer, a German artist, who was one of the first to accept the invitation of Peter the Great to move to St. Petersburg to teach perspective painting to Russian artists. Quickly gaining authority at court.

In 1716-1720, on a state pension, together with his brother Roman, he was sent (among twenty people) to study in Italy, in Venice and Florence. He studied with such masters as Tommaso Redi and J. G. Dangauer. After returning, he becomes a court painter. So, Nikitin owns a portrait of the dying Peter the Great. In 1732, together with his brother Roman, also an artist, he was arrested in connection with the distribution of libels against Feofan Prokopovich. After five years of pre-trial detention in Peter and Paul Fortress was beaten with whips and exiled to Tobolsk for life.

In 1741, after the death of Anna Ioannovna, he received permission to return to St. Petersburg. Left in 1742 and died on the way.

Creativity Nikitin

There are only three signed works by Nikitin, along with those attributed to him, only about ten.

Early works still contain traces of the parsuna, which was the only portrait style in Russia in the 17th century.

Nikitin is one of the first (often referred to as the first) Russian artists who moved away from the traditional icon-painting style of Russian painting and began to paint with perspective, as they did in Europe at that time. Thus, he is the founder of the tradition of Russian painting, which continues to this day.

Notable works of the artist

• Princess Praskovya Ivanovna, 1714, State Russian Museum.
• Portrait of a Cossack in a red caftan, 1715, Kharkov Art Museum.
• Princess Natalya Alekseevna, 1716?, State Tretyakov Gallery.
• Portrait of Chancellor Golovkin, 1720s, State Tretyakov Gallery.
• Portrait of Peter the Great, 1725, State Russian Museum.

• Portrait of Baron Stroganov, 1726, State Russian Museum.
• Portrait of an outdoor hetman, 1720s, State Russian Museum.
• Portrait of Anna Petrovna, State Russian Museum.
• Portrait of S. P. Strogonov, State Russian Museum.

Workshop "Heritage" was founded in 1990

Since the founding of the workshop, we have focused on copying paintings and have accumulated a lot of experience in this direction.

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It is noteworthy that it is in Russia that the old academic school of painting has been preserved, which is now largely lost in the West, it is for this reason that a large number of foreign students study at the Repin Academy in St. Petersburg.

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