A history painter Ivan Luchaninov was born in 1781 in the Pskov province into a merchant family. In the early 19th century he audited classes at the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts and in 1809, in view of his outstanding academic achievements he was admitted as a full student on government pension. Upon graduation from the Academia, he worked at the Hermitage and even fulfilled several commissions for Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna, spouse of Pavel I already assassinated by that time.
Blessing of Home Guardsman in 1812 was a response to the dramatic events of the Patriotic War by young Luchaninov. In that same year of 1812, shortly before graduation from the Academy, he was awarded the big gold medal for his painting Recruit’s Family Farewell, while in addition to the gold medal Blessing of Home Guardsman earned him a distinguished title of Academician of History Painting.
The painting immediately won broad popularity far beyond the academic circles. The Imperial Textile Factory made a tapestry based on Blessing of Home Guardsman, and it was regularly reproduced in engravings and even cheap folk prints. Luchaninov himself made multiple copies of the piece – one such copy is presently in possession of the Rybinsk museum.
The painting shows a scene of family parting with a young man about to go to war. He bows to his father holding an icon sending blessing upon his son. To the right of the head of the family, his mother looks at him mournfully, his wife is deeply sad too: she stands there with her eyes cast down and her right hand propping her cheek. The soldier with a rifle watches the scene calmly and somewhat indifferently.
Later, Luchanov got back to the subject of the Patriotic War several times. His 1815 painting Warrior’s Return to his Family represents a kind of happy ending to The Blessing. That canvas is also distinguished by high professionalism and love of the motherland.
Blessing of Home Guardsman in 1812 was a response to the dramatic events of the Patriotic War by young Luchaninov. In that same year of 1812, shortly before graduation from the Academy, he was awarded the big gold medal for his painting Recruit’s Family Farewell, while in addition to the gold medal Blessing of Home Guardsman earned him a distinguished title of Academician of History Painting.
The painting immediately won broad popularity far beyond the academic circles. The Imperial Textile Factory made a tapestry based on Blessing of Home Guardsman, and it was regularly reproduced in engravings and even cheap folk prints. Luchaninov himself made multiple copies of the piece – one such copy is presently in possession of the Rybinsk museum.
The painting shows a scene of family parting with a young man about to go to war. He bows to his father holding an icon sending blessing upon his son. To the right of the head of the family, his mother looks at him mournfully, his wife is deeply sad too: she stands there with her eyes cast down and her right hand propping her cheek. The soldier with a rifle watches the scene calmly and somewhat indifferently.
The clothes of the Russian peasants in the picture are ethnographically correct in every detail, but Luchaninov imparts the features of ancient heroes to them. Their strong torsos are reminiscent of the Greek and Roman heroes. Its accurate lines, well-balanced composition, and unhurried dignified gestures of the characters turn a mundane scene into an event of major significance.
Later, Luchanov got back to the subject of the Patriotic War several times. His 1815 painting Warrior’s Return to his Family represents a kind of happy ending to The Blessing. That canvas is also distinguished by high professionalism and love of the motherland.
