Tale of Bygone Years narrates of Kiev besiegement by Pechenegs in 992. Jan, a modest usmar (leathercrafter), volunteered to fight with a pecheneg in the determinative battle. To be certain in his capacities and strength, Kiev inhabitants organised a trial: he had to stop a running bull. While doing so Jan pulled out a piece of its coat.
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Jan Usmar Strength Trial
Creation period
1796 (1797?)
Dimensions
283x404 cm
283x404 cm
283x404 cm
Technique
Canvas, oil
Collection
Exhibition
32
Open in app#6
Grigory Ugryumov
Jan Usmar Strength Trial
#5
#7
Artist Grigory Ugryumov depicted this moment. Following requirements of academism, he posed the main figure in the very center. On the right, there are prince Vladimir sitting on a throne and surrounded by his weaponed warriors, their attention is completely riveted to the action. The young man and the old man in the left part of the painting are probably Jan Usmar’s father and brother.
The composition produces such a strong effect thanks to diagonals. Usmar’s figure is moving to the left, the bull’s heavy corpse, which is streaming to the right counterweights this. Prince Vladimir’s gesture and the fallen warrior’s upturned leg form another diagonal.
#8
The falling figure outlines tension of the situation and rapidity of the hero’s movements. If Usmar couldn’t have stopped the bull, he would have fallen down and found himself nearly in the same position. Due to the method popular at that time, the painter demonstrated several stages of movement on the static canvas.
#9
Ugryumov’s characters are dressed in antique vestments: togas or Roman suits of armour. Vladimir is wearing a red pallium and a golden crown. The reason for this is that academic masters took classical oeuvres as an example. With archeology not being developed at the end of the 18th century, the author simply did not know how Ancient Russian clothes looked like.
#15
General pathos, bright colours and expressive light are connected with Ugryumov’s interest in the Baroque, especially in works by Peter Paul Rubens, a famous Dutch artist. The author used his warm tones and his play of light and shadow.
#16
Peter Paul Rubens (1577–1640). Perseus Releases Andromeda. Canvas, oil. Around 1622. State Hermitage
#10
Regarding the plot, the painter followed Anton Losenko’s traditions who was the first in Russia to create oeuvres on historical topics. However, Losenko dedicated his canvas to the Russian princes, and Ugryumov was one of the pioneers to place the national hero in the center of attention. 'Jan Usmar Strength Trial' was aligned with the age of Enlightenment thanks to the use of the Russian historical material and patriotism of the plot.
Anton Losenko (1737–1773). Vladimir and Rogneda. Canvas, oil 1770. State Russian Museum
#14
Grigory Ugryumov is a famous academic painter and outstanding teacher at the turn of the 18th — 19th centuries. He enjoyed preferential treatment at the court of Catherine II, Paul I and Alexander I. He used to take orders from the royal family and work on the paintings for the newly built Saint-Petersburg cathedrals. In 1797, Ugryumov accepted an academician title for his Jan Usmar canvas.
#17
Ivan Pozhalostin (1837–1909). Jan Usmar Strength Trial. Print by a graver after the painting by Grigory Ugryumov. 1872–1874. State Russian Museum
#18
Unknown author. Jan Usmoshvets (Usmar). Print after the painting by Grigory Ugryumov ‘Jan Usmar Strength Trial''. Second half of the XIX century. State Russian Museum
#19
Grigory Ugryumov’s painting ''Jan Usmar Strength Trial'' during the restoration process. Photo 2014
#20
Alexander Minin, a leading restorer of the Russian Museum, is removing old layers from Grigory Ugryumov’s painting “Jan Usmar Strength Trial''. Photo 2014
#21
State Russian Museum
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Jan Usmar Strength Trial
Creation period
1796 (1797?)
Dimensions
283x404 cm
283x404 cm
283x404 cm
Technique
Canvas, oil
Collection
Exhibition
32
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