Italian Images in Landscape Sketches of Russian Artists in the First Half of the 19th Century

Student: Afanaseva Irina

Educational Programme: History of Arts (Bachelor)

Year of Graduation: 2019

This study analyzes the evolution of Russian plein-air landscape sketches of Italy in the first half of the 19th century. The main objects of this research are landscape paintings made by little-known, but remarkable Russian artists (Pyotr Basin, Mikhail Lebedev, Grigory and Nikanor Chernetsov, Maksim and Socrates Vorobyov, Vasily Sternberg, Vasily Raev), during their trips in Italy. The role of Russian landscape painters in Italy is clearly underestimated. The paper explores key principles of working with nature by the examples of Russian artists’ artworks; determines the boundaries between the plein-air sketch and the painting; compares, analyzes, and systematizes their main natural and architectural motives. Special attention is given to the European samples and the educational system of Maksim Vorobyov, the outstanding teacher and the founder of the new school of Russian landscape painting.

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