In the early years of his career, Ivan Aivazovsky admired the aesthetics of the Romanticism from which he draw his inspiration. Under the influence of this movement, he painted ‘Moonlit Night’. In this picture, the seascape painter depicted the Gulf of Naples, which he saw during his trip to Italy.
Moonlit nights were a favorite state of nature depicted by many Romantic artists. The opposition of light and darkness, upheaval and tranquility, the sublimity of nature and the human tenacity became the main motifs in the landscapes of the romantics.
Aivazovsky infused ‘Moonlit Night’ with an atmosphere of magic and charm. The golden moon illuminates the sky and is reflected in the water, the clouds seem transparent and glowing. In the moonlight, the waves take on an emerald-turquoise hue, similar to the color of precious stones. The fishermen stare fixedly at the horizon, as if they admire the view.
Nevertheless, there is also something disturbing in the seemingly serene landscape — the short waves run onto the shore, the moon peeks through the ragged-looking clouds that drift rapidly with the wind. It seems that the storm is either just over, or just about to begin. Aivazovsky creates dynamics in the painting to convey the duality and changeability of nature.
Ivan Aivazovsky was born in Feodosia into a poor Armenian family. Since his early childhood, he was fond of drawing. Thanks to influential patrons who believed in his talent, after graduating from the gymnasium, Aivazovsky entered the Imperial Academy of Arts and was sponsored by the state. He achieved such academic success that he graduated from the Academy two years earlier than intended.
Aivazovsky painted throughout most of the 19th century and became one of the most prolific artists of his time. His most famous landscapes were inspired by Italian nature. Aivazovsky’s exhibitions in Naples and Rome attracted the closest attention of both the critics and the public. The viewers particularly admired the realistic portrayal of the sea and the air. The pictures that Aivazovsky painted in 1841–1843 gained great popularity. They include such works as “View of the Venetian Lagoon”, “The Bay of Naples”, “The Coast at Amalfi”, “Chaos. Creation of the World”, “The Bay of Naples by Moonlight”, “Seashore”, etc.
The sea as a symbol of freedom was the main inspiration in the work of Ivan Aivazovsky. His seascapes brought him success and international fame. With time, the artist became one of the most famous seascape painters in the world.
Moonlit nights were a favorite state of nature depicted by many Romantic artists. The opposition of light and darkness, upheaval and tranquility, the sublimity of nature and the human tenacity became the main motifs in the landscapes of the romantics.
Aivazovsky infused ‘Moonlit Night’ with an atmosphere of magic and charm. The golden moon illuminates the sky and is reflected in the water, the clouds seem transparent and glowing. In the moonlight, the waves take on an emerald-turquoise hue, similar to the color of precious stones. The fishermen stare fixedly at the horizon, as if they admire the view.
Nevertheless, there is also something disturbing in the seemingly serene landscape — the short waves run onto the shore, the moon peeks through the ragged-looking clouds that drift rapidly with the wind. It seems that the storm is either just over, or just about to begin. Aivazovsky creates dynamics in the painting to convey the duality and changeability of nature.
Ivan Aivazovsky was born in Feodosia into a poor Armenian family. Since his early childhood, he was fond of drawing. Thanks to influential patrons who believed in his talent, after graduating from the gymnasium, Aivazovsky entered the Imperial Academy of Arts and was sponsored by the state. He achieved such academic success that he graduated from the Academy two years earlier than intended.
Aivazovsky painted throughout most of the 19th century and became one of the most prolific artists of his time. His most famous landscapes were inspired by Italian nature. Aivazovsky’s exhibitions in Naples and Rome attracted the closest attention of both the critics and the public. The viewers particularly admired the realistic portrayal of the sea and the air. The pictures that Aivazovsky painted in 1841–1843 gained great popularity. They include such works as “View of the Venetian Lagoon”, “The Bay of Naples”, “The Coast at Amalfi”, “Chaos. Creation of the World”, “The Bay of Naples by Moonlight”, “Seashore”, etc.
The sea as a symbol of freedom was the main inspiration in the work of Ivan Aivazovsky. His seascapes brought him success and international fame. With time, the artist became one of the most famous seascape painters in the world.
