Amazing in its beauty, the painting “Sea. Koktebel Bay" was created in the 18th century by Ivan Aivazovsky. She personifies the uniqueness of the recalcitrant, raging sea.

In the foreground of the painting, the artist depicted a beach and a small boat aimed at the depths of the sea. It feels like a little more and the boat will break out of the embrace of the shore and rush into the distance along the waves towards dangers. Most of the picture is occupied by the foaming and endless sea, the same as the sky. Waves and expanses of heaven merge behind the horizon - turning into some kind of large and super-powerful creature that obscures the sunlight and hangs over the ship, which has already plunged into the raging waves.

Aivazovsky also painted rocks, they give the picture even more rigor and menacing. They seem to be silently watching everything that happens, but they do not want to interfere. From their harsh silence it becomes somehow hopeless and eerie, but then you notice a slight reflection of the sun, timidly peeking out from behind the clouds, it is like a glimmer of hope that everything will end soon, the sea will again become friendly and kind.

This picture shows the manifestation of love for native land, it is felt in every stroke of the author's brush. Seeing the “Koktebel Bay” live, you will feel the full power of the picture and feel the fresh sea air, the atmosphere of the restless sea element, which, despite this, is beautiful.

In the landscapes of Ivan Aivazovsky, and during his life he painted more than six thousand of them, the sea appears before us as the basis of nature in all its mighty beauty and splendor. The painter created many of his paintings in his studio, whose windows overlooked the side opposite to the sea. Aivazovsky painted landscapes not from nature, but from his memory.

Sometimes a painter, as he is sometimes called a singer of the sea, invited customers to his studio and painted a picture right in front of their eyes in an hour or two. Such a show attracted more and more customers, which is why the popularity of the virtuoso painter grew unheard of, and orders simply poured in.

The academically literate, solid quality of painting is universally admired by fans of landscapes, especially in Western countries, where since the late 80s. In the 20th century, the creations of the great marine painter Aivazovsky simply began to boom.

In our time, paintings by Ivan Aivazovsky are mandatory exhibits at all auctions, they fit perfectly into the pan-European series, which is dedicated to the oriental theme, as well as academicism and painting of the 19th century.

Speaking of Aivazovsky, we immediately imagine seascapes.

It seems that you can find in the paintings of Aivazovsky? One continuous sea with ships. There is an opinion that it is enough to look at 5-7 of his paintings and get to know the whole of Aivazovsky.

I will prove that it is not. That Aivazovsky cannot be called a boring landscape painter.

He was a romantic artist. His paintings are dramatic shipwrecks, naval battles. The stories are very entertaining to watch.

There are also lunar paths, smoking volcanoes, trees up to the sky. All that amazes with its beauty.

In addition, Aivazovsky painted not only seascapes. Among his works you will find an image of lions killing a camel. Portrait of a beautiful woman. And even Pushkin.

Aivazovsky was inventive. Didn't like to repeat myself. The task seems to be impossible. Considering that in his entire life he created 6,000 works!

Here are just 7 topics of his role. Which reveal all the diversity of his work.

All reproductions in the article are clickable.

1. Storm and shipwreck

Ninth shaft. 1850

Ivan Aivazovsky. Ninth shaft. 1850, St. Petersburg. wikipedia.org

2. The greatness of the Russian fleet

Chesme battle. 1848

Ivan Aivazovsky. Chesme battle. 1848 Art Gallery. I.K. Aivazovsky, Feodosia. wikipedia.org

“Chesme battle” is one of the most famous paintings in the battle genre.

Very bright fire. As if the picture is actually on fire. Chips fly from the explosion. Sailors are trying to escape in the water.

Everything is so alive and believable. As if the artist was present at this battle.

This naval battle between Russian and Turkish ships took place in 1770. So Aivazovsky did not see him live. He had not yet been born at that time. But this does not mean that he did not see the battles at all.

Even as I saw it. After all, he was the official artist of the Navy. He was given access to all ships. Including during real hostilities.

He was not afraid of bullets. Even ignored the risk to life. He left the line of fire only by order of the commander-in-chief.

Aivazovsky knew the equipment of the ships very well. Even if the ship is depicted far away, the details on it are still carefully prescribed.

Ivan Aivazovsky. Review of the Black Sea Fleet in 1849 1886 Central Naval Museum, St. Petersburg

3. Night sea

Bay of Naples on a moonlit night. 1842

Ivan Aivazovsky. Gulf of Naples in moonlit night. 1842 Feodosia picture gallery them. I.K. Aivazovsky, Feodosia, Crimea

Aivazovsky's night landscapes were especially good. “The Gulf of Naples on a moonlit night” is one of the first such works.

A very bright but distant moon. Moon path. Smoky Vesuvius. Tall trees in the foreground. Monastery. Two monks in white.

The moon was so bright that some visitors seriously looked behind the picture. Hoping to find a lit candle there. Which illuminates the picture from behind.

The landscape was painted during a long tour of Europe. At first, the Academy of Arts sent him there. Aivazovsky's paintings sold well in every country. So he could afford to extend the journey. There were 130 visas in his international passport upon his return to Russia!

The moon often appeared in Aivazovsky's paintings. But he could portray the incredible night light even without the moon. As in the picture “View from the Baydar Gates”.

Ivan Aivazovsky. View from the Baydar Gates, Black Sea. 19th century. Private collection

In the picture - reflected Moonlight. We see almost every pebble in the mountains. Fantastic spectacle. Telling about the most beautiful views of nature on our planet.

4. Religion and the sea

Chaos or Creation of the world. 1841

Ivan Aivazovsky. Chaos. 1841 Vatican Museums

The painting "Chaos" is the most famous religious work of Aivazovsky. The lunar path makes its way through the dark waves. But in the sky is not just the moon, but the silhouette of God with outstretched arms. Very effective.

This painting was purchased by Pope Gregory XVI. This incident glorified Aivazovsky even more.

Before making a deal, the commission of the Vatican carefully studied the picture. But I did not find anything in it that could interfere with the purchase.

Nikolai Gogol personally congratulated Aivazovsky “... Vanya, you came ... to Rome and immediately raised chaos in the Vatican!”

I don’t know why the artist called the picture “Chaos”. Everything on it is harmonious and solemn. Aivazovsky has much more chaotic paintings.

Look at another religious painting, The Deluge. Figures of dying people and animals mixed with waves and splashes. That's where the real chaos is. Although very pompous.

Unexpected, right? Try to find a drowning elephant in this chaos (the picture is clickable).

Ivan Aivazovsky. Global flood. 1864 State Russian Museum, St. Petersburg. biblia-zhivopis.ru

5. Sea and Pushkin

Pushkin in the Crimea near the Gurzuf rocks. 1880

Ivan Aivazovsky. Pushkin in the Crimea near the Gurzuf rocks. 1880 Odessa Art Museum

Sometimes Aivazovsky inscribed an important person in his seascapes. About a dozen times he did this with Pushkin.

True, on most of them the figure of the poet is small. Facial features are barely visible. He is recognizable only by his characteristic sideburns. As, for example, in the painting “Pushkin in the Crimea…”

Aivazovsky was a romantic artist. For whom nature is always greater than man. No matter how great this person is. Hence the “small” Pushkin, Napoleon or Peter I.

But there is one exception. In the painting “Pushkin's Farewell to the Sea”, the figure of the poet is larger.

But this picture can hardly be called an exception. Because Pushkin was written by ... Ilya Repin.

Aivazovsky asked him about this. The famous marine painter admitted that Repin was much better at portraits. And he didn’t even take offense at criticism from him.

Once Repin noticed that Aivazovsky's figures were illuminated by the sun from both sides. And that it is contrary to nature. To which Aivazovsky, not at all offended, replied, “Ah, Ilya Efimovich, what a pedant you are.”

Interestingly, they agreed in advance that the work would be signed only by the name of Aivazovsky? I think Repin did not mind. Judging by how modestly he assessed his work: “Aivazovsky wrote the Marvelous Sea ... And I was honored to paint a figure there.”

6. Just the sea.

Among the waves. 1898

Ivan Aivazovsky. Among the waves. 1898 Feodosia Art Gallery. I.K. Aivazovsky, Feodosia, Crimea. izi.travel

“Among the Waves” is the largest painting by Aivazovsky. 285 by 429 cm. How much do you think the artist painted it? Some years? Long months?

10 days! And this at the age of 80! True, Aivazovsky almost paid with his health for this work.

To write the upper part, he climbed onto a wooden platform. But one day he forgot himself and began to move backwards in order to evaluate what was written. He flew down ... Fortunately, a servant managed to pick him up. Otherwise, injury would not have been avoided.

“Among the Waves” is a very realistic picture. There is no too bright moon here. Just a wide beam. There are no spectacularly listing ships either ... Although no .. There was still one boat.

When Aivazovsky showed his creation to his relatives, one of his sons-in-law, a ship engineer, spoke out. He was surprised how this fragile boat-shell keeps on the waves.

Aivazovsky came out angry. The next day, the boat in the picture disappeared. The artist painted it mercilessly.

He has another similar job. Black Sea. Only dark waves. Small storm. There is also a sailboat here. Do you see him? (The picture is clickable).

Ivan Aivazovsky. Black Sea. 1881, Moscow. wikipedia.org

7. Unexpected Aivazovsky. 3 lions and one portrait

Ivan Aivazovsky. Lions in the desert. 1874 Private collection

Three lions killing a camel. Didn't expect this from a marine painter? It would seem, not at all in Aivazovsky's way. But take a look.

Isn't he in a similar element here? Endless desert instead of the sea. Camel killed by lions. It is like a sunken ship under the onslaught of ferocious waves. Only the color scheme is different. Not blue, but yellow.

Aivazovsky also painted portraits. True, among them there are no masterpieces. They were more memoirs. The most famous among them is the portrait of the second wife.

Ivan Aivazovsky. Portrait of the artist's wife. 1894 Feodosia Art Gallery, Feodosia, Crimea. wikipedia.org

This portrait was painted when the artist was over 70. The age difference with his second wife was 40 years. Their marriage lasted 18 years.

A beautiful, humble woman. Who, after the death of her husband, wanted only solitude. She will spend another 45 years of her life all alone.

Once, in the first years of study at the Academy, Aivazovsky brought his drawing. The teachers were amazed.

Ivan Aivazovsky. Betrayal of Judas. 1834 State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow city.

They were sure that Aivazovsky did not draw it himself. And if he did, then he made a copy from the work of some master.

But it's not a copy. And the creation of the early Aivazovsky. It only says one thing.

If Aivazovsky had not been born by the sea, if he had not become a marine painter, he would still have become an outstanding artist.

Only we would see luxurious forests and romantic cities. Varied and definitely not boring.

In contact with

Why is the Aivazovsky Sea so alive, breathing and transparent? What is the axis of any of his paintings? Where should we look to enjoy his masterpieces to the fullest? As he wrote: is it long, short, joyful or painful? And what does impressionism have to do with Aivazovsky?

Of course, Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky was born a genius. But there was also a craft that he mastered brilliantly and in the intricacies of which one wants to understand. So, from what were the sea foam and moon paths of Aivazovsky born?

Ivan Constantinovich Aivazovski. Storm on rocky shores.

"Secret colors", Aivazovsky wave, glazing

Ivan Kramskoy wrote to Pavel Tretyakov: “Aivazovsky probably has the secret of composing paints, and even the paints themselves are secret; I have never seen such bright and pure tones even on the shelves of Muscat shops.. Some of Aivazovsky's secrets have come down to us, although the main one is not at all a secret: in order to write the sea like that, you need to be born by the sea, live a long life near it, for which you never get fed up with it.

The famous “Aivazovsky wave” is a foamy, almost transparent sea wave, which feels like it is moving, swift, alive. The artist achieved transparency using the glazing technique, that is, applying the thinnest layers of paint on top of each other. Aivazovsky preferred oil, but often his waves seem like watercolors. It is as a result of glazing that the image acquires this transparency, and the colors seem very saturated, but not due to the density of the stroke, but due to the special depth and subtlety. Aivazovsky's virtuoso glazing is a delight for collectors: most of his paintings are in excellent condition - the thinnest layers of paint are less prone to cracking.

Aivazovsky wrote rapidly, often creating works in one session, so his glazing technique had author's nuances. Here is what Nikolai Barsamov, long-term director of the Feodosia Art Gallery and the greatest connoisseur of Aivazovsky’s work, writes about this: “... he sometimes glazed water over a semi-dry underpainting. Often the artist glazed the waves at their base, which gave depth and strength to the colorful tone and achieved the effect of a transparent wave. Sometimes glazing darkened significant planes of the picture. But glazing in Aivazovsky's painting was not an obligatory last stage of work, as was the case with the old masters with the three-layer method of painting. All his painting was basically carried out in one go, and glazing was often used by him as one of the ways to apply a layer of paint on white ground at the beginning of work, and not just as final registrations at the end of work. The artist sometimes used glazing at the first stage of work, covering significant planes of the picture with a translucent layer of paint and using the white ground of the canvas as a luminous lining. So sometimes he wrote water. Skillfully distributing a layer of paint of various densities over the canvas, Aivazovsky achieved a true transmission of the transparency of water.

Aivazovsky turned to glazes not only when working on waves and clouds, but with their help he was able to breathe life into the land. " Aivazovsky painted earth and stones with coarse bristly brushes. It is possible that he specially trimmed them so that the hard ends of the bristles left furrows on the paint layer., - says the art critic Barsamov. - The paint in these places is usually laid in a dense layer. As a rule, Aivazovsky almost always glazed the ground. The glazing (darker) tone, falling into the furrows from the bristles, gave a kind of liveliness to the colorful layer and greater reality to the depicted form.».

As for the question “where did the paint come from?”, it is known that in last years he bought paints from the Berlin firm Mewes. Everything is simple. But there is also a legend: as if Aivazovsky bought paints from Turner. Only one thing can be said about this: it is theoretically possible, but even if so, Aivazovsky definitely did not paint all 6,000 of his works with Turner paints. And the picture that the impressed Turner dedicated the poem to was created by Aivazovsky even before he met the great British marine painter.

Ivan Constantinovich Aivazovski. Bay of Naples on a moonlit night.

“In your picture I see the moon with its gold and silver, standing above the sea, reflected in it. The surface of the sea, on which a light breeze catches up with a quivering swell, seems to be a field of sparks. Forgive me, great artist, if I made a mistake in mistaking the picture for reality, but your work fascinated me, and delight took possession of me. Your art is eternal and powerful, because genius inspires you,” William Turner’s poems about Aivazovsky’s painting “The Bay of Naples on a Moonlit Night”.

Ivan Constantinovich Aivazovski. Among the waves.

The main thing is to start, or At the pace of Aivazovsky

Aivazovsky always began work with the image of the sky, and he wrote it in one go - it could be 10 minutes or 6 hours. He painted the light in the sky not with the side surface of the brush, but with its end, that is, he “illuminated” the sky with numerous quick touches of the brush. The sky is ready - you can relax, get distracted (however, he allowed himself this only with paintings that took a lot of time). The sea could write in several passes.

To work on a painting for a long time in the view of Ivan Aivazovsky is, for example, to paint one canvas for 10 days. That is how much it took the artist, who at that time was 81 years old, to create his largest painting - "Among the Waves". At the same time, according to his confession, his whole life was a preparation for this picture. That is, the work required maximum effort from the artist - and for ten whole days. But in the history of art, it is not uncommon for cases when paintings were painted for twenty or more years (for example, Fyodor Bruni painted his “Copper Serpent” for 14 years, started in 1827, and finished in 1841).

In Italy, Aivazovsky at a certain period made friends with Alexander Ivanov, the same one who wrote The Appearance of Christ to the People for 20 years, from 1837 to 1857. They even tried to work together, but soon quarreled. Ivanov could work on a sketch for months, trying to achieve the special accuracy of a poplar leaf, while Aivazovsky managed to walk all around and paint several pictures during this time: “I can’t write quietly, I can’t pore for months. I don’t leave the picture until I speak out ”. So many different talents different ways to create - hard labor and joyful admiration of life - could not stay close for a long time.

Ivan Aivazovsky next to his painting, photograph, 1898.

Aivazovsky at the easel.

“The atmosphere of the workshop was exceptionally simple. In front of the easel there was a simple chair with a wicker reed seat, the back of which was covered with a rather thick layer of paint, since Aivazovsky had a habit of throwing his hand with a brush behind the back of the chair and, sitting half a turn to the picture, looked at it, ”- from the memoirs of Konstantin Artseulov , this grandson of Aivazovsky also became an artist.

Creativity as joy

Aivazovsky's muse (forgive us this pompousness) is joyful, not painful. “By the ease, the apparent ease of the movement of the hand, by the satisfied expression on the face, one could safely say that such work is a real pleasure”, - these are the impressions of an official of the Ministry of the Imperial Court, writer Vasily Krivenko, who watched how Aivazovsky worked.

Aivazovsky, of course, saw that for many artists their gift is either a blessing or a curse, other paintings are written almost with blood, exhausting and exhausting their creator. For him, approaching the canvas with a brush has always been the greatest joy and happiness, he acquired a special lightness and omnipotence in his workshop. At the same time, Aivazovsky carefully listened to practical advice, did not dismiss the comments of people whom he valued and respected. Although not enough to believe that the lightness of his brush is a drawback.

Plein air VS workshop

Only the lazy did not talk about the importance of working with nature in those years. Aivazovsky, on the other hand, preferred to make fleeting sketches from life, and write in the studio. “Preferred”, perhaps, is not quite the right word, it’s not a matter of convenience, it was his principled choice. He believed that it was impossible to depict from nature the movement of the elements, the breath of the sea, the peals of thunder and the flashing of lightning - and this was what interested him. Aivazovsky had a phenomenal memory and considered his task "in nature" to absorb what was happening. Feeling and memorizing, in order to return to the studio, throw out these feelings on the canvas - that's why nature is needed. At the same time, Aivazovsky was an excellent copyist. During training with Maxim Vorobyov, he demonstrated this skill to the fullest. But copying - at least someone's paintings, even nature - seemed to him much less than he was able to do.

Ivan Constantinovich Aivazovski. Amalfi Bay in 1842. Sketch. 1880s

Ivan Constantinovich Aivazovski. Coast in Amalfi.

About the rapid work of Aivazovsky and what his sketches from nature were, the artist Ilya Ostroukhov left detailed memories:

“I accidentally got acquainted with the manner of performing artworks by the late famous marine painter Aivazovsky in 1889, during one of my trips abroad, in Biarritz. At about the same time that I arrived in Biarritz, Aivazovsky also arrived there. The venerable artist was already then, as I remember, about seventy years old that way ... Having learned that I was well acquainted with the topography of the area, [he] immediately pulled me for a walk along the ocean shore. The day was stormy, and Aivazovsky, fascinated by the view of the ocean surf, stopped on the beach ...

Without taking his eyes off the ocean and the landscape of distant mountains, he slowly took out his tiny notebook and drew only three lines with a pencil - the outline of distant mountains, the line of the ocean at the foot of these mountains, and the line of the coast from myself. Then we went on with him. After walking about a verst, he stopped again and made the same drawing of several lines in the other direction.

It's a cloudy day today, - said Aivazovsky, - and you can only tell me, please, where the sun rises and sets here.

I pointed. Aivazovsky put a few dots in the book and hid the book in his pocket.

Now let's go. For me this is enough. Tomorrow I will paint the ocean surf in Biarritz.

The next day, three spectacular pictures of the sea surf were really written: in Biarritz: in the morning, at noon and at sunset ... "

Ivan Constantinovich Aivazovski. Biarritz. 1889

Aivazovsky's sun, or what does impressionism have to do with it

The Armenian artist Martiros Saryan noticed that no matter how grandiose the storm Aivazovsky portrayed, in the upper part of the canvas a ray of light will always break through the accumulation of thunderclouds - sometimes clear, sometimes thin and barely noticeable: “It is in him, this Light, that the meaning of all the storms depicted by Aivazovsky lies».

Ivan Constantinovich Aivazovski. Storm in the North Sea.

Ivan Constantinovich Aivazovski. Moonlight night. 1849

Ivan Constantinovich Aivazovski. Bay of Naples on a moonlit night. 1892

Ivan Constantinovich Aivazovski. Ship "Empress Maria" during a storm. 1892

Ivan Constantinovich Aivazovski. Moonlit night in Capri. 1841

If it is the sun, then it will illuminate the blackest storm, if it is a lunar path, then it will fill the entire canvas with its flicker. We are not going to call Aivazovsky either an impressionist or a forerunner of impressionism. But let's quote the words of the patron Alexei Tomilov - he criticizes the paintings of Aivazovsky: “The figures are sacrificed to such an extent that it is impossible to recognize: in the foreground they are men or women (...) air and water flaunt.” We say about the Impressionists that the main characters of their paintings are color and light, one of the main tasks is the transmission of light-air mass. In the works of Aivazovsky, light is in the first place, and yes, quite right, air and water (in his case, this is about the sky and the sea). Everything else is built around this main thing.

He strives not only to portray plausibly, but to convey sensations: the sun should shine so that you want to close your eyes, the viewer will shrink from the wind, and recoil from the wave in fright. The latter, in particular, was done by Repin, when Aivazovsky suddenly opened the door of the room in front of him, behind which stood his "Ninth Wave".

Museums section publications

A dozen seas by Ivan Aivazovsky: geography in paintings

We remember famous canvases Aivazovsky and study the maritime geography of the 19th century using them.

Adriatic Sea

Venetian lagoon. View of the island of San Giorgio. 1844. State Tretyakov Gallery

The sea, which is part of the Mediterranean, was named in antiquity after the ancient port of Adria (in the region of Venice). Now the water has receded from the city by 22 kilometers, and the city has become land.

In the 19th century, reference books wrote about this sea: “... the most dangerous wind is the northeast wind - Borey, also the southeast wind - sirocco; southwestern - siffanto, less common and less prolonged, but often very strong; it is especially dangerous near the mouths of the Po, when it suddenly changes to the southeast and turns into a strong storm (furiano). Between the islands of the east coast these winds are doubly dangerous, for in the narrow channels and in each bay they blow differently; the most terrible are the boreal in winter and the hot "south" (Slovensk.) in summer. Already the ancients often talk about the dangers of Adria, and from the numerous prayers for salvation and the vows of sailors preserved in the churches of the Italian coast, it is clear that the changeable weather has long been the subject of complaints from coastal swimmers .... ”(1890).

Atlantic Ocean

Napoleon on Saint Helena. 1897. Feodosia Art Gallery. I.K. Aivazovsky

The ocean got its name in antiquity, in honor of the mythical titan Atlanta, who held the vault of heaven on his shoulders somewhere near Gibraltar.

“... The time recently used by sailing ships in various indicated directions is expressed by the following numbers: from Pas de Calais to New York 25-40 days; back 15–23; to the West Indies 27–30, to the equator 27–33 days; from New York to the equator 20–22, in summer 25–31 days; from the English Channel to Bahia 40, to Rio de Janeiro 45, to Cape Horn 66, to Capstadt 60, to the Gulf of Guinea 51 days. Of course, the duration of the crossing varies depending on the weather; more detailed guidance can be found in the "Passage tables" published by the London Board of Trade. Steamboats are less dependent on the weather, especially postal ones, equipped with all the modern improvements and now crossing the Atlantic Ocean in all directions ... ”(1890).

Baltic Sea

Big raid in Kronstadt. 1836. Timing

The sea got its name either from the Latin word balteus (“belt”), since, according to ancient geographers, it encircled Europe, or from the Baltic word baltas (“white”).

“... Due to the low salt content, shallow depth and severity of winter, the Baltic Sea freezes over a large area, although not every winter. So, for example, driving on ice from Reval to Helsingfors is not possible every winter, but in severe frosts and deep straits between the Åland Islands and both coasts of the mainland are covered with ice, and in 1809 the Russian army with all military weights crossed here over the ice to Sweden and in two other places across the Gulf of Bothnia. In 1658, the Swedish king Charles X crossed the ice from Jutland to Zeeland…” (1890).

ionian sea

Naval Battle of Navarino, October 2, 1827. 1846. Naval Academy. N.G. Kuznetsova

According to ancient myths, the sea, which is part of the Mediterranean, was named after Zeus's beloved Princess Io, who was turned into a cow by his wife, the goddess Hera. In addition, Hera sent a huge gadfly to Io, fleeing from which the poor thing swam across the sea.

“... There are luxurious olive groves on Kefalonia, but in general the Ionian Islands are treeless. Main products: wine, oil, southern fruits. The main occupations of the inhabitants are agriculture and sheep breeding, fishing, trade, and shipbuilding; manufacturing industry in its infancy…”

In the 19th century, this sea was the site of important naval battles: we talked about one of them, captured by Aivazovsky.

Cretan Sea

On the island of Crete. 1867. Feodosia Art Gallery. I.K. Aivazovsky

Another sea, which is part of the Mediterranean, washes Crete from the north and is named after this island. "Crete" is one of the oldest geographical names, it is already found in the Mycenaean linear letter "B" of the 2nd millennium BC. e. Its meaning is unclear; perhaps in one of the ancient Anatolian languages ​​it meant "silver".

“...Christians and Mohammedans are here in terrible mutual enmity. Industries are in decline; harbors, which were in a flourishing state under the Venetian rule, almost all became shallow; most of the cities are in ruins…” (1895).

Sea of ​​Marmara

Golden Horn Bay. Turkey. After 1845. Chuvash State Art Museum

The sea, located between the Bosporus and the Dardanelles, connects the Black Sea with the Mediterranean and separates the European part of Istanbul from the Asian. It is named after the island of Marmara, where the famous quarries were located in ancient times.

“... Although the Sea of ​​Marmara is in the exclusive possession of the Turks, both its topography and its physico-chemical and biological properties have been studied mainly by Russian hydrographers and scientists. The first detailed description of the shores of this sea was made on Turkish military ships in 1845-1848 by the hydrographer of the Russian fleet, captain-lieutenant Manganari ... ”(1897).

North Sea

View of Amsterdam. 1854. Kharkov Art Museum

The sea, which is part Atlantic Ocean, washes the coast of Europe from France to Scandinavia. In the 19th century in Russia it was called German, later the name was changed.

“... With the exception of the aforementioned very narrow expanse of great depths off the coast of Norway, the German Sea is the smallest of all coastal seas and even of all seas, with the exception of the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov. The German Sea, together with the English Channel, are the seas most visited by ships, since through it there is a path from the ocean to the first harbor of the globe - London ... ”(1897).

Arctic Ocean

Storm on the Arctic Ocean. 1864. Feodosia Art Gallery. I.K. Aivazovsky

The current name of the ocean was officially approved in 1937, before that it was called differently - including the North Sea. In ancient Russian texts, there is even a touching version - the Breathing Sea. In Europe, it is called the Arctic Ocean.

“... Attempts to reach the North Pole have not been successful so far. The closest expedition to the North Pole was the expedition of the American Peary, who set off from New York in 1905 on a specially built Roosevelt steamer and returned in October 1906 ”(1907).

Mediterranean Sea

Port of La Valletta on the island of Malta. 1844. Timing

This sea became "Mediterranean" in the III century AD. e. thanks to the Roman geographers. The composition of this large sea includes many small ones - in addition to those named here, these are Alboran, Balearic, Icarian, Carpathian, Cilician, Cypriot, Levantine, Libyan, Ligurian, Myrtoic and Thracian.

“... Navigation in the Mediterranean Sea at the present time, with the strong development of the steam fleet, does not present any particular difficulties, due to the comparative rarity of strong storms and due to the satisfactory fencing of shallows and coasts with lighthouses and other warning signs. About 300 large lighthouses are distributed along the coasts of the continents and islands, with the latter accounting for about 1/3, and of the remaining 3/4 located on the European coast ... ”(1900).

Tyrrhenian Sea

Moonlit night in Capri. 1841. State Tretyakov Gallery

The sea, which is part of the Mediterranean and located north of Sicily, was named after the character of ancient myths, the Lydian prince Tyrrhenus, who drowned in it.

“... All the latifundia [large estates] of Sicily belong to large owners - aristocrats who live permanently either in continental Italy, or in France and Spain. The shredding of landed property often goes to extremes: the peasant owns one dugout on a piece of land measuring several square arshins. In the seaside valley, where private property lies in fruit plantations, there are often such peasant owners who have only 4-5 chestnut trees ”(1900).

Black Sea

Black Sea (A storm begins to break out on the Black Sea). 1881. State Tretyakov Gallery

This name, probably associated with the color of the water during a storm, the sea received only in modern times. The ancient Greeks, who actively settled on its shores, called it first the Inhospitable, and then the Hospitable.

“... Urgent passenger and cargo shipping traffic between the ports of the Black Sea is supported by Russian ships (mainly of the Russian Shipping and Trade Society), Austrian Lloyd, French Messageries maritimes and Frayssinet et C-ie and the Greek company Courtgi et C-ie under the Turkish flag. Foreign ships visit almost exclusively the ports of Rumelia, Bulgaria, Romania and Anatolia, while the ships of the Russian Society of Shipping and Trade visit all the ports of the Black Sea. The composition of the ships of the Russian Society of Shipping and Trade in 1901 - 74 ships ... "(1903).

the Aegean sea

Island of Patmos. 1854. Omsk Regional Museum fine arts them. M.A. Vrubel

This part of the Mediterranean Sea, located between Greece and Turkey, is named after the Athenian king Aegeus, who threw himself into it from a cliff, thinking that his son Theseus was killed by the Minotaur.

“... Sailing along the Aegean Sea, which lies in the path of ships coming from the Black and Marmara Seas, is generally very pleasant, thanks to good, clear weather, but in autumn and early spring storms are not uncommon, brought by cyclones coming from the North Atlantic Ocean through Europe to Malaya Asia. The inhabitants of the islands are excellent sailors ... "(1904).

Biography and paintings of Ivan Aivazovsky with titles.

Biography

self-portrait

Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky is a famous Russian artist. Known as an unsurpassed master of painting in the genre of marina"(seascapes, battle scenes at sea). Known throughout the world as one of the most outstanding Russian artists, representing both Russian painting in general and the highest level of the marine genre. If Ivan Shishkin can be called the best Russian landscape painter who created indescribable landscapes of the Russian forest, then Ivan Aivazovsky is the best landscape painter, whose main attention was riveted to the sea.

Ivan Aivazovsky has Armenian origin. Born June 29, 1817 in Feodosia. Real name - Hovhannes Ayvazyan. From early childhood he had creativity. Special talents were observed in music and drawing. Studied at the Imperial Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg. Here his abilities were appreciated. For his paintings, he repeatedly received the highest awards.

Due to high academic performance, Aivazovsky graduated two years ahead of schedule, after which the Academy sent him to the Crimea. After he traveled around Europe, where for six years he was engaged in independent painting. Abroad, his work was also appreciated. After returning to Russia, he became an artist of the Main Naval Staff of Russia, and then a professor at the Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg.

The main subjects of Ivan Aivazovsky were seascapes, battle scenes at sea (sea battles). In addition, in his work there are many landscape paintings, urban landscapes, genre painting.

During his life, Aivazovsky wrote over 6000 paintings. The last picture of Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky was the work called "Sea Bay". On the last day of his life, he began to paint the painting "", which remained unfinished.

The great Russian artist died on April 19 (May 2), 1900 in Feodosia. The artist was 82 years old. He was buried in Feodosia, in the courtyard of the Armenian Church of St. Sargis.

Ivan Aivazovsky is one of the greatest artists world importance. More than a hundred years after the painter died, his paintings are still highly valued, presented in major museums, and are considered an invaluable asset of world art. Aivazovsky's contribution to world culture and painting is difficult to overestimate. For many subsequent artists, his art is an example of the highest level of craftsmanship worth striving for.

Here you can see collection of paintings by Ivan Aivazovsky. The most famous paintings. Naturally, it is not possible to imagine several thousand paintings by the artist, but a few dozen that you can see in the gallery on our website are enough to understand how talented and brilliant the artist was, who went down in world history as one of those whose talent will always surprise, delight and inspire.

Ivan Aivazovsky paintings with titles

View of Constantinople by moonlight
Storm on the sea at night
Brig "Mercury", attacked by two Turkish ships
Seashore at night. By the lighthouse
Sea shore. Calm Battle in the Chios Strait June 24, 1770

The brig "Mercury" after the victory over two Turkish ships meets with the Russian squadron
Stormy sea at night
Storm over Evpatoria
Golden Horn Bay. Turkey
Great Pyramid of Giza
Venice
Windmill by the sea
Turkish ship explosion
View of Vesuvius on a moonlit night
View of the Venetian lagoon
View of Constantinople and the Golden Horn
Wave Eastern scene. Coffee house near Ortakoy Mosque in Constantinople
global flood
Vyborg naval battle
Galata tower on a moonlit night
Gurzuf at night
Ninth shaft Winter landscape
Winter scene in Little Russia
Shipwreck
Ship Empress Maria during a storm
Kronstadt raid
Ice mountains in Antarctica
Moonlit night in Crimea
Moonlit night in Capri
Sea. Koktebel
Naval Battle of Navarino, October 2, 1827
Sea view from the chapel on the shore
sea ​​bay
Bay of Naples on a moonlit night
Gulf of Naples
Jews crossing the Red Sea
Petersburg exchange
Peter I at Krasnaya Gorka Pushkin's farewell to the sea
Rainbow
Battle of Sinop October 18, 1853
Sinop battle
Barges on the seashore
Towers on a rock near the Bosphorus
Chumaks in Little Russia
Black Sea
Morning at sea
Tiflis
Scenes from Cairo life
Twilight in the Golden Horn
Fleeing the shipwreck
Noah's descent from Mount Ararat Chaos. world creation
Among the waves Chesme battle on the night of June 25-26, 1770