‘ErmInia and the Shepherds’ refers to the poem ‘Jerusalem Delivered’ by the Italian poet TorquAto TAsso. This plot is common for art history: in particular, we can also recall the painting of the same title by Karl Bryullov from the collection of the State Tretyakov Gallery. NovosIbirsk keeps the painting by Andrey IvAnov, father to the creator of the famous ‘The Appearance of Christ Before the People, ’ a talented painter and a professor at the Academy of Arts who noticeably influenced art on the cusp between the 18th and the 19th centuries.
The main theme of the work is the superiority of peaceful life over war. A poem by Tasso that inspired the artist tells us a story about the First Crusade and the battle between Crusaders and SAracens. Heroic and sentimental motifs peculiarly intertwine in the poem. The latter has to do with Erminia, the daughter of a Saracen ruler, who falls in love with Tancredi, a crusader. Guided by her feelings, she dresses as a knight to find him. On her way, Erminia meets an old shepherd and his sons who are braiding willow baskets. It was them who told the young woman about the virtues of living a secluded peaceful life.
Andrey Ivanov based his artwork on this very pastoral episode. The artist also concerned himself with the issues of the heroic and the peace-loving. He decided to portray Erminia in a soft, lyrical way. The painting is also notable for its fine academic drawing and exquisite coloring. First of all, the viewer sees clear illuminated figures in the foreground and a hazed background. This idealized landscape seems to make the viewer look into the distance.
Ivanov worked on the painting in the period of his professional development. This is quite a rare work—all in all, Ivanov left a modest creative legacy. Ivanov spent over thirty years of his life working at the Academy of Arts and educated a whole plethora of students. His son Alexander Ivanov and Karl Bryullov were among them. Teaching consumed almost all of the artist’s time. That is why his works were not very famous. However, the artworks that have reached us, including “Erminia and the Shepherds”, reveal the originality of his painting style and academic accuracy of his work.
The main theme of the work is the superiority of peaceful life over war. A poem by Tasso that inspired the artist tells us a story about the First Crusade and the battle between Crusaders and SAracens. Heroic and sentimental motifs peculiarly intertwine in the poem. The latter has to do with Erminia, the daughter of a Saracen ruler, who falls in love with Tancredi, a crusader. Guided by her feelings, she dresses as a knight to find him. On her way, Erminia meets an old shepherd and his sons who are braiding willow baskets. It was them who told the young woman about the virtues of living a secluded peaceful life.
Andrey Ivanov based his artwork on this very pastoral episode. The artist also concerned himself with the issues of the heroic and the peace-loving. He decided to portray Erminia in a soft, lyrical way. The painting is also notable for its fine academic drawing and exquisite coloring. First of all, the viewer sees clear illuminated figures in the foreground and a hazed background. This idealized landscape seems to make the viewer look into the distance.
Ivanov worked on the painting in the period of his professional development. This is quite a rare work—all in all, Ivanov left a modest creative legacy. Ivanov spent over thirty years of his life working at the Academy of Arts and educated a whole plethora of students. His son Alexander Ivanov and Karl Bryullov were among them. Teaching consumed almost all of the artist’s time. That is why his works were not very famous. However, the artworks that have reached us, including “Erminia and the Shepherds”, reveal the originality of his painting style and academic accuracy of his work.
