The “Portrait of an Unknown Man” signed by the artist Fyodor Igin and dated 1842 holds a special place in the collection of Uglich portraits. Technically, this half-length image on a dark neutral background is not so different from other portraits of the same period, however, its fundamental difference is obvious from the very first sight.
This portrait was painted by the professional artist Fyodor Ivanovich Igin. The portraits of ordinary people became widely popular in the first half of the 19th century and were referred to as the “third” or “urban” culture that appeared later than the “low” popular and “high” noble culture. As a rule, portraitists who worked on commission were artisans rather than artists and were guided not by modern painting styles but by the taste of middle-class citizens. Instead of artistic freedom, their works aimed to achieve a true-to-life depiction of evenly illuminated serious faces as well as thoroughly detailed objects that were valuable to the customer. At the same time, such works were not devoid of artistic value. This portrait, however, is characterized by more creative thought: the face of an unknown man and his expressive hands with intertwined fingers are portrayed skillfully. Even the position of the sitter’s body is more “three-dimensional” than was typical of the traditional merchant portrait.
The painter Fyodor Igin was born into an ordinary peasant family in the village of Podgorodneye, Yarensky Uyezd, Vologda Region in 1816. Having moved to St. Petersburg, in 1834, Igin started attending drawing classes at the Academy of Arts. Between 1835 and 1839, he studied painting under the academician Alexey Gavrilovich Venetsianov. The teacher recognized the young man as a talented artist and ensured that Igin received an opportunity to continue his education in St. Petersburg. From 1841, Igin systematically attended the Academy of Arts where he worked under the guidance of Pyotr Basin. In 1847, Fyodor Igin received the title of a free (unclassed) artist of history and portrait painting for his portrait of an Old Believer.
“Portrait of an Unknown Man” entered the museum from the house of the Makarov merchants in the Laryukovo village near Uglich. It may be assumed that this is the “Portrait of Merchant Makarov” presented by Igin at the Academy Exhibition in 1842 (according to the artist’s biographies, the location of that painting is unknown).
This portrait was painted by the professional artist Fyodor Ivanovich Igin. The portraits of ordinary people became widely popular in the first half of the 19th century and were referred to as the “third” or “urban” culture that appeared later than the “low” popular and “high” noble culture. As a rule, portraitists who worked on commission were artisans rather than artists and were guided not by modern painting styles but by the taste of middle-class citizens. Instead of artistic freedom, their works aimed to achieve a true-to-life depiction of evenly illuminated serious faces as well as thoroughly detailed objects that were valuable to the customer. At the same time, such works were not devoid of artistic value. This portrait, however, is characterized by more creative thought: the face of an unknown man and his expressive hands with intertwined fingers are portrayed skillfully. Even the position of the sitter’s body is more “three-dimensional” than was typical of the traditional merchant portrait.
The painter Fyodor Igin was born into an ordinary peasant family in the village of Podgorodneye, Yarensky Uyezd, Vologda Region in 1816. Having moved to St. Petersburg, in 1834, Igin started attending drawing classes at the Academy of Arts. Between 1835 and 1839, he studied painting under the academician Alexey Gavrilovich Venetsianov. The teacher recognized the young man as a talented artist and ensured that Igin received an opportunity to continue his education in St. Petersburg. From 1841, Igin systematically attended the Academy of Arts where he worked under the guidance of Pyotr Basin. In 1847, Fyodor Igin received the title of a free (unclassed) artist of history and portrait painting for his portrait of an Old Believer.
“Portrait of an Unknown Man” entered the museum from the house of the Makarov merchants in the Laryukovo village near Uglich. It may be assumed that this is the “Portrait of Merchant Makarov” presented by Igin at the Academy Exhibition in 1842 (according to the artist’s biographies, the location of that painting is unknown).
