The artist’s career of Apollon Mokritsky began in the Poltava governorate, in the Nezhinsky gymnasium, where among his classmates were the writer Nikolay Gogol and the poet Nestor Kukolnik. In the early 1830s, Mokritsky went to St. Petersburg, to study at the Academy of Arts, where he was first enrolled as a non-credit student. From 1832, he studied painting for several years with Alexey Venetsianov. Then he was enrolled to the Academy, and became a legitimate student of Karl Bryullov.
Since this time Apollon Mokritsky had begun to study Italian painting, he copied paintings by old masters in the Hermitage, and painted portraits in an academic manner following the Bryullov’s style. During the years of training, Mokritsky was awarded the silver and gold medal of the Academy of Arts, as well as the title of a free artist.
He became popular almost immediately after graduating from the Academy. The artist was invited to exhibitions, and he started receiving orders for painting portraits. Mokritsky got the opportunity to go to Italy, where he painted sketches from nature, created custom-made portraits and became a very popular portraitist.
When Apollon Mokritsky returned from Italy, he painted a portrait of Metropolitan Nikanor, for which he was awarded the title of academician. In Russia, Mokritsky continued to improve his skills, he traveled a lot, and often visited Europe. From 1851 he started his career of a lecturer at the Moscow school of painting and sculpture and brought up many talented students
His artwork ‘Carnival. Italian women in the balcony’ was created in 1852 after he returned from his state sponsored trip to Italy. Some graduates of the Academy of Arts were sent abroad, their trips were sponsored by the state and these students were called ’pensioners’. They were supposed to refine their skills, study arts and visit famous art galleries.
The picture was painted in the romantic and academic style. Apollon Mokritsky masterfully painted the details of the picture, and, following the example of his teacher Karl Bryullov, masterfully conveyed the texture of fabrics and materials. He showed the colorful atmosphere of a folk festival, noisy southern celebration, picturesque and theatrical.
Painting ‘Carnival. Italians on the balcony’ is a reworked version of his well-known work ‘A girl at the carnival’, also painted in Italy and distinguished at the Rome exhibition. The original version of this artwork was bought by Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna. Today the paintings are exhibited at the Taganrog Art Museum.
Since this time Apollon Mokritsky had begun to study Italian painting, he copied paintings by old masters in the Hermitage, and painted portraits in an academic manner following the Bryullov’s style. During the years of training, Mokritsky was awarded the silver and gold medal of the Academy of Arts, as well as the title of a free artist.
He became popular almost immediately after graduating from the Academy. The artist was invited to exhibitions, and he started receiving orders for painting portraits. Mokritsky got the opportunity to go to Italy, where he painted sketches from nature, created custom-made portraits and became a very popular portraitist.
When Apollon Mokritsky returned from Italy, he painted a portrait of Metropolitan Nikanor, for which he was awarded the title of academician. In Russia, Mokritsky continued to improve his skills, he traveled a lot, and often visited Europe. From 1851 he started his career of a lecturer at the Moscow school of painting and sculpture and brought up many talented students
His artwork ‘Carnival. Italian women in the balcony’ was created in 1852 after he returned from his state sponsored trip to Italy. Some graduates of the Academy of Arts were sent abroad, their trips were sponsored by the state and these students were called ’pensioners’. They were supposed to refine their skills, study arts and visit famous art galleries.
The picture was painted in the romantic and academic style. Apollon Mokritsky masterfully painted the details of the picture, and, following the example of his teacher Karl Bryullov, masterfully conveyed the texture of fabrics and materials. He showed the colorful atmosphere of a folk festival, noisy southern celebration, picturesque and theatrical.
Painting ‘Carnival. Italians on the balcony’ is a reworked version of his well-known work ‘A girl at the carnival’, also painted in Italy and distinguished at the Rome exhibition. The original version of this artwork was bought by Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna. Today the paintings are exhibited at the Taganrog Art Museum.
