The artist Sergey Petrovich Yudin was born in 1858. From 1883 to 1889, he studied at the Imperial Academy of Arts, where he was awarded two small medals.
Sergey Yudin was known for his masterful sunny plein-air studies. He gained great popularity through his landscapes painted in the style of academism. He spent a significant part of his life in Tashkent. His creative career was diverse: in addition to painting, he also taught at a local art school and designed sets for amateur theaters in Tashkent. Yudin’s versatile approach to his work was based on the principles of classical painting that he learned at the Academy,
The painting by Yudin on display at the Rybinsk Museum was created in 1883, as indicated by the inscription preserved on the reverse. There are few paintings that have survived from the 19th century that capture the appearance of Rybinsk in those times. Back then, it was the capital of grain trade on the Volga and, when it comes to beauty, could compete with the major centers of Russia.
The artist depicted the hallmark of the town — the ensemble of the Transfiguration Cathedral, which included the main church, as well as a bell tower and a building that has since been lost, the St. Nicholas Cathedral. At the time the painting was created, St. Nicholas Church was one of the oldest churches in Rybinsk. It was built in 1720 and was used for winter services. The ensemble is visible behind numerous wooden and stone structures on the right bank of the Volga River.
Next to the pier, various types of vessels are moored, including boats, launches, barges, and two small steam ships. Their smoke stretches far into the distance beyond the horizon.
The landscape is characterized by a delicate palette of pastel colors, dominated by shades of blue and brown. These various combinations allow the artist to skillfully convey the cozy atmosphere of a small town on the banks of the Volga River.
This work, which was created by Sergey Yudin prior to his graduation from the Academy of Arts, is representative of his early style. In this painting, the young artist demonstrates his mastery of light and air perspective, as well as other techniques associated with classical painting.
