Sergei Tkachyov painted ‘Lake Mstino (Kuindzhi Islands)’ in 1990. He captures the water in the light of the setting sun. The artist managed to achieve an unusually realistic image. The artists uses unique natural shades of orange and bright yellow, creating soft tonal shifts between them. Sergei Tkachyov manages to convey a sense of calm, which is felt by all when looking out on a lake during sunset. A boat in the distance does not disturb this impression, it seems as if it is frozen on the water”s mirror-like surface.
The region around Lake Mstino has inspired many artists. It was here that, at the end of the 19th century, a summer residence for the Imperial Academy of Arts was built. Disadvantaged students could come here to hone their craft. Later, it turned into the I.E Repin Akademicheskaya Dacha, the creative headquarters of the Union of Artists. In the region surrounding the ‘Akademichka’, Isaac Levitan, Vasily Vereshchagin, Nicholas Roerich, Konstantin Korovin and many other famous artists completed paintings. The beauty of Lake Mstino was admired by the great Russian artist, Ilya Repin. ‘For a landscape artist, this is the promised land! This is Russia herself - all her soul and all her charm. It is like a song! ”
Some places in the region are named after artists. For example, locals call the hill next to the dacha “Roerich”s Hillock”, as it was here that Nicholas Roerich painted “The Messenger”. The master of landscape painting himself, Arkhip Kuindzhi, also visited the “Akademichka”. There is a legend that the artist once celebrated his birthday on one of the islands. The students organized a torchlit procession on boats in his honor which proceeded to the furthest islands. This is why these islands are called the “Kuindzhi Islands”.
The region around Lake Mstino has inspired many artists. It was here that, at the end of the 19th century, a summer residence for the Imperial Academy of Arts was built. Disadvantaged students could come here to hone their craft. Later, it turned into the I.E Repin Akademicheskaya Dacha, the creative headquarters of the Union of Artists. In the region surrounding the ‘Akademichka’, Isaac Levitan, Vasily Vereshchagin, Nicholas Roerich, Konstantin Korovin and many other famous artists completed paintings. The beauty of Lake Mstino was admired by the great Russian artist, Ilya Repin. ‘For a landscape artist, this is the promised land! This is Russia herself - all her soul and all her charm. It is like a song! ”
Some places in the region are named after artists. For example, locals call the hill next to the dacha “Roerich”s Hillock”, as it was here that Nicholas Roerich painted “The Messenger”. The master of landscape painting himself, Arkhip Kuindzhi, also visited the “Akademichka”. There is a legend that the artist once celebrated his birthday on one of the islands. The students organized a torchlit procession on boats in his honor which proceeded to the furthest islands. This is why these islands are called the “Kuindzhi Islands”.
This legend is reflected in the title of Sergei Tkachyov’s work.
Alexei and Sergei Tkachyov first went to the ‘Akademichka’ in July 1954. They assert that it was here that they felt genuine artistic freedom. As Sergei Tkachyov recalls, ‘We often painted Lake Mstino, the river Msta, bathhouses, piers and bridges dotted on the shores of the island. Every time you sense everything in a different way, especially the stunning sunsets.’
Alexei and Sergei Tkachyov first went to the ‘Akademichka’ in July 1954. They assert that it was here that they felt genuine artistic freedom. As Sergei Tkachyov recalls, ‘We often painted Lake Mstino, the river Msta, bathhouses, piers and bridges dotted on the shores of the island. Every time you sense everything in a different way, especially the stunning sunsets.’
