лGirl with a Blue Bead Necklace’ was painted by Nikolay Rachkov, a Russian artist of the 19th century. He was a renowned master of genre painting, graphic artist and author of satirical drawings. His works can be found in the collections of the Tretyakov Gallery, the Russian Museum and the Nizhny Novgorod Art Museum. They include “Day before Holiday”, the sketch “Old Woman”, “At the Gate”, “Kitchen Maid” and many others.
Nikolay Rachkov was a native of the Nizhny Novgorod Governorate. His father was an art teacher; therefore, he had his first art lessons at home. At the age of 13, Rachkov went to study at the A. Stupin School of Painting in Arzamas. Later his portrait Gipsy was on exhibition along with the works by the students of the Imperial Academy of Arts. He received the designation of “unclassed artist” for this work and a silver medal, which was awarded for pictorial artwork in recognition of high proficiency.
In the 1860s, Rachkov embarked on a career in Moscow, where he became one of the founders and distinguished members of the Moscow Charitable Society of Fine Art Lovers. Later he drew caricatures for the satirical weekly Iskra and such magazines as Gusliar and Illyustratsia.
Nikolay Rachkov often painted women’s and children’s heads in great numbers, as well as domestic situations from everyday life since simple genre scenes appealed to the public. His works were bought by famous collectors Pavel Tretyakov and Kozma Soldatenkov for their collections. In 1878 Rachkov’s painting ‘Almswoman’ participated in the academic exhibition and later was exhibited in the Russian pavilion at the Universal Exposition held in Paris.
The painting from the collection of the Arzamas museum depicts a ten-year-old girl with dark hair combed back smoothly. The portrait showed the classical archetype of a Russian beauty. Her bright grey eyes are looking at the viewer, and her fleshy lips are half-smiling. Her fair hair is parted and covered by a big red headscarf tied at the back. The scarf is accentuating the child’s natural beauty and drawing the viewer’s attention to her radiant face.
Nikolay Rachkov was a native of the Nizhny Novgorod Governorate. His father was an art teacher; therefore, he had his first art lessons at home. At the age of 13, Rachkov went to study at the A. Stupin School of Painting in Arzamas. Later his portrait Gipsy was on exhibition along with the works by the students of the Imperial Academy of Arts. He received the designation of “unclassed artist” for this work and a silver medal, which was awarded for pictorial artwork in recognition of high proficiency.
In the 1860s, Rachkov embarked on a career in Moscow, where he became one of the founders and distinguished members of the Moscow Charitable Society of Fine Art Lovers. Later he drew caricatures for the satirical weekly Iskra and such magazines as Gusliar and Illyustratsia.
Nikolay Rachkov often painted women’s and children’s heads in great numbers, as well as domestic situations from everyday life since simple genre scenes appealed to the public. His works were bought by famous collectors Pavel Tretyakov and Kozma Soldatenkov for their collections. In 1878 Rachkov’s painting ‘Almswoman’ participated in the academic exhibition and later was exhibited in the Russian pavilion at the Universal Exposition held in Paris.
The painting from the collection of the Arzamas museum depicts a ten-year-old girl with dark hair combed back smoothly. The portrait showed the classical archetype of a Russian beauty. Her bright grey eyes are looking at the viewer, and her fleshy lips are half-smiling. Her fair hair is parted and covered by a big red headscarf tied at the back. The scarf is accentuating the child’s natural beauty and drawing the viewer’s attention to her radiant face.
