The painting Italian Woman with a Cluster of Grapes was made by Russian portrait painter Ivan Kuzmich Makarov, who lived and worked in the golden age of Russian culture, belonged to the number of masters of academic painting of the second half of the 19th century. Ivan Makarov is the author of a number of portraits and works of monumental paintings of religious content, who possessed high professionalism and a refined sense of color.
Ivan Kuzmich Makarov was born on March 23, 1822. After graduating from school in Saransk, he began to study at the school of painting, founded by his father Kuzma Alexandrovich Makarov. The first works of the artist were icons and Church images. In 1842, together with his father, he painted a Church in the village of Salovka, Penza province. But the artist’s work was not only on Christian subjects, he actively made other works, which were highly appreciated by the academic Council of the Imperial Academy of arts.
In 1844, Ivan Kuzmich moved to St. Petersburg and studied at the Academy of Arts in a course led by Professor Alexei Tarasovich Markov, where he studied for two years. He chose portraiture as his main specialization. The works of the young portrait painter quickly became popular in the St. Petersburg society.
In the 50s of the 19th century, Ivan Makarov traveled a lot in Europe, visited Berlin, Dresden, Munich, Venice, and stayed in Rome for a year and a half. Italian art, southern nature and the beauty of the people made a lasting impression on the painter. During this period, the artist created a lot of bright paintings and graphic works, including the painting “Italian woman with a cluster of grapes”, made in the technique of Italian pencil.
A young woman removing a cluster of grapes from a vine is depicted in the painting. Her relaxed figure, slightly tilted head, smile, casually draped clothes speak of carelessness and joy of life. Despite the fact that the picture is written in pencil, the artist managed to convey the warmth and light of the southern sun, the ripeness of the grapes and the charm of a young Italian woman.
After traveling in Europe, Ivan Makarov returned to St. Petersburg, where in 1855 he received the title of academician of historical and portrait painting. Works of Ivan Kuzmich Makarov are in many Russian museums and private collections. The painting Italian Woman with a Cluster of Grapes was acquired by the I.D. Voronin United Museum of Local History of the Republic of Mordovia (I.D. Voronin NMLHRM) in 1972 from Ivan Kuzmich Makarov - art historian, grandson of the artist.
Ivan Kuzmich Makarov was born on March 23, 1822. After graduating from school in Saransk, he began to study at the school of painting, founded by his father Kuzma Alexandrovich Makarov. The first works of the artist were icons and Church images. In 1842, together with his father, he painted a Church in the village of Salovka, Penza province. But the artist’s work was not only on Christian subjects, he actively made other works, which were highly appreciated by the academic Council of the Imperial Academy of arts.
In 1844, Ivan Kuzmich moved to St. Petersburg and studied at the Academy of Arts in a course led by Professor Alexei Tarasovich Markov, where he studied for two years. He chose portraiture as his main specialization. The works of the young portrait painter quickly became popular in the St. Petersburg society.
In the 50s of the 19th century, Ivan Makarov traveled a lot in Europe, visited Berlin, Dresden, Munich, Venice, and stayed in Rome for a year and a half. Italian art, southern nature and the beauty of the people made a lasting impression on the painter. During this period, the artist created a lot of bright paintings and graphic works, including the painting “Italian woman with a cluster of grapes”, made in the technique of Italian pencil.
A young woman removing a cluster of grapes from a vine is depicted in the painting. Her relaxed figure, slightly tilted head, smile, casually draped clothes speak of carelessness and joy of life. Despite the fact that the picture is written in pencil, the artist managed to convey the warmth and light of the southern sun, the ripeness of the grapes and the charm of a young Italian woman.
After traveling in Europe, Ivan Makarov returned to St. Petersburg, where in 1855 he received the title of academician of historical and portrait painting. Works of Ivan Kuzmich Makarov are in many Russian museums and private collections. The painting Italian Woman with a Cluster of Grapes was acquired by the I.D. Voronin United Museum of Local History of the Republic of Mordovia (I.D. Voronin NMLHRM) in 1972 from Ivan Kuzmich Makarov - art historian, grandson of the artist.
