In March 1846, 8 years later, already famous seascape painter Ivan Aivazovsky visits Yalta again. Elated, he writes to his patron and admirer, count P.N. Zubov “… I completely enjoyed nature, seeing one of the best places in Europe. Yes, in addition, even in your own country, enjoying the present, you can also dream of your future. Amazing place. In winter, almost everything is green, because there are many cypress and laurel trees, and monthly roses bloom unceasingly in winter.” 

In the 1870s, Aivazovsky’s eldest daughter, Elena Ivanovna, with her husband and son Mikhail, a painter-to-be, settled in Yalta on Autskaya Street. Here Ivan Aivazovsky often came at the end of his life to see his daughter and beloved grandson. In the 1870s, Aivazovsky’s eldest daughter, Elena Ivanovna, with her husband and son Mikhail, a painter-to-be, settled in Yalta on Autskaya Street. Here Ivan Aivazovsky often came at the end of his life to see his daughter and beloved grandson. 

The artist convincingly shows the very special, intense state of nature before a thunderstorm, playing with contrasts and lighting. Heavy, gloomy clouds creep into the sun, painting the city in an alarming crimson color. Water shafts break on the shore, sprinkling fountains on curious passers-by standing on the embankment. In the foreground in a small boat a group of people struggling with the nature- a common motive for works of the romantic era.

“The Sea is my life”, told the painter. He grew up on the seashore of Feodosiya, as a young man he went on long voyages and carefully studied the life of the sea. Constant and long-term observations, perfect knowledge of the sea and excellent visual memory were crucial for creating paintings, many of which the artist wrote from memory. “The Sea is my life”, told the painter. He grew up on the seashore of Feodosiya, as a young man he went on long voyages and carefully studied the life of the sea. Constant and long-term observations, perfect knowledge of the sea and excellent visual memory were crucial for creating paintings, many of which the artist wrote from memory.  

“Neither study nor work would have helped, if the sea hasn”t spoken to him and revealed the mysteries of its soul” Aivazovsky’s friend Nikolai Kuzmin wrote in his ‘Memories of Aivazivsky’.