Mikhail Botkin was a master of history painting, art expert and collector. The artist painted portraits, still lifes and landscapes, created genre pieces and Bible story paintings. The artist’s canvases featuring subjects from history are characterized by the expressiveness of characters and well-balanced compositions.
Mikhail Botkin was greatly influenced by the work of Russian artist Alexander Ivanov. Botkin visited the painter’s studio in Italy and watched him work on his large-scale canvas The Appearance of Christ before the People. Ivanov bequeathed his studies and sketches to his friend and admirer, who subsequently donated them to the museum. Mikhail Botkin published an in-depth study of Alexander Ivanov’s work and life. While working on the book, Botkin got an idea of painting his own image of Jesus Christ.
The idea was implemented in the painting entitled Christ Talking to His Disciples on the Mount of Olives. The canvas features Christ returning from the temple with his followers. They stopped at top of the mountain to take a rest. The Mount of Olives overlooks Jerusalem, Christ points at the panorama of the city with his hand. According to the Holy Scriptures, he spoke with his disciples about the fall of Jerusalem: “See ye not all these stones and buildings? Verily, I say unto you, there shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”
The sufferings, the betrayal by Judas, Pilate’s judgment and the crucifixion are still ahead of Jesus, but during this conversation with his closest disciples, Christ is calm. The artist conveys the serenity of their friendly conversation, inter alia, through the composition of the painting. The characters are inscribed within a triangle; the canvas is dominated by volumes of dark-blue, light-blue and white colours.
Mikhail Botkin was a brother of famous physician Sergei Botkin. The artist was keen on archeology; during his travels, he collected numerous antiquities and works of Russian and Western European art. They included Renaissance wood carvings, bronze items, ancient fabrics, antique ceramics, ancient Russian jewelry. Apart from art and collecting, Botkin was engaged in trade and social activities. He held high positions in the Russian Shipping and Trade Society.
Mikhail Botkin was greatly influenced by the work of Russian artist Alexander Ivanov. Botkin visited the painter’s studio in Italy and watched him work on his large-scale canvas The Appearance of Christ before the People. Ivanov bequeathed his studies and sketches to his friend and admirer, who subsequently donated them to the museum. Mikhail Botkin published an in-depth study of Alexander Ivanov’s work and life. While working on the book, Botkin got an idea of painting his own image of Jesus Christ.
The idea was implemented in the painting entitled Christ Talking to His Disciples on the Mount of Olives. The canvas features Christ returning from the temple with his followers. They stopped at top of the mountain to take a rest. The Mount of Olives overlooks Jerusalem, Christ points at the panorama of the city with his hand. According to the Holy Scriptures, he spoke with his disciples about the fall of Jerusalem: “See ye not all these stones and buildings? Verily, I say unto you, there shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”
The sufferings, the betrayal by Judas, Pilate’s judgment and the crucifixion are still ahead of Jesus, but during this conversation with his closest disciples, Christ is calm. The artist conveys the serenity of their friendly conversation, inter alia, through the composition of the painting. The characters are inscribed within a triangle; the canvas is dominated by volumes of dark-blue, light-blue and white colours.
Mikhail Botkin was a brother of famous physician Sergei Botkin. The artist was keen on archeology; during his travels, he collected numerous antiquities and works of Russian and Western European art. They included Renaissance wood carvings, bronze items, ancient fabrics, antique ceramics, ancient Russian jewelry. Apart from art and collecting, Botkin was engaged in trade and social activities. He held high positions in the Russian Shipping and Trade Society.
