The Nikolai Golovanov Apartment Museum houses a painting called “Venice. Canal” by Vasily Polenov. The picture was painted during the artist’s visit to Italy in 1897, where Polenov created a series of sketches and landscapes.
Landscape painting occupies a special place in the oeuvre of Vasily Polenov. Landscapes almost always played an important role in the artist’s works, even genre and history paintings. Polenov was a well-educated, versatile and erudite person, who was devoted to the democratic ideas of the Peredvizhniki Society and remained its permanent member for the rest of his life. The only other painter to be more widely represented in Nikolai Golovanov’s collection was Konstantin Korovin. It appears that the conductor could relate to Polenov’s attitude and “his admiration of the beauty of the world.” The artist’s student Yakov Minchenkov recalled, “… Polenov taught us how to paint with solid tones, conveying nature with a number of separate strokes, as if in a mosaic. This added a special freshness and strength to the colors.” These words can also be used to describe the work “Venice. Canal”, which is distinct for its impressionistic quality and delicate color palette.
Nikolai Golovanov himself visited many cities in Italy, but it was Venice that remained his favorite throughout his life. That is why his collection contains a large number of works by various artists with views of the “city built on water”. They all depict this wonderful city differently: at various times of the year and day and in various weather conditions. Venice is an incredible place that seems to be perfect for art. For centuries, artists have painted views of Venice, trying to find something new and unusual about it.
In Polenov’s painting, the city is shown as extraordinarily sunny and festive. The picture seems to open a window to a wonderful world, which lets in the fresh sea breeze, the cries of seagulls and the sound of masts creaking at the pier. The way the water surface is depicted deserves special attention. With a wave-like movement of the brush, the artist created an incredible effect of a mirror surface, which reflects tall white houses covered with red tiles, and boats waiting for passengers. Polenov carefully observed everyday life, abandoning the familiar views of Venice and turning to the outskirts, hidden from the eyes of tourists.
Landscape painting occupies a special place in the oeuvre of Vasily Polenov. Landscapes almost always played an important role in the artist’s works, even genre and history paintings. Polenov was a well-educated, versatile and erudite person, who was devoted to the democratic ideas of the Peredvizhniki Society and remained its permanent member for the rest of his life. The only other painter to be more widely represented in Nikolai Golovanov’s collection was Konstantin Korovin. It appears that the conductor could relate to Polenov’s attitude and “his admiration of the beauty of the world.” The artist’s student Yakov Minchenkov recalled, “… Polenov taught us how to paint with solid tones, conveying nature with a number of separate strokes, as if in a mosaic. This added a special freshness and strength to the colors.” These words can also be used to describe the work “Venice. Canal”, which is distinct for its impressionistic quality and delicate color palette.
Nikolai Golovanov himself visited many cities in Italy, but it was Venice that remained his favorite throughout his life. That is why his collection contains a large number of works by various artists with views of the “city built on water”. They all depict this wonderful city differently: at various times of the year and day and in various weather conditions. Venice is an incredible place that seems to be perfect for art. For centuries, artists have painted views of Venice, trying to find something new and unusual about it.
In Polenov’s painting, the city is shown as extraordinarily sunny and festive. The picture seems to open a window to a wonderful world, which lets in the fresh sea breeze, the cries of seagulls and the sound of masts creaking at the pier. The way the water surface is depicted deserves special attention. With a wave-like movement of the brush, the artist created an incredible effect of a mirror surface, which reflects tall white houses covered with red tiles, and boats waiting for passengers. Polenov carefully observed everyday life, abandoning the familiar views of Venice and turning to the outskirts, hidden from the eyes of tourists.
