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Taking a Snow Fortress

Creation period
1891
Dimensions
156x282 cm
Technique
Canvas, oil
53
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#4
Vasily Surikov
Taking a Snow Fortress
#2
Taking a Snow Fortress is the only large-format and not history-themed canvas by Vasily Surikov. In reality the artist was working on this light plot during a difficult period after his wife’s death. Trying to regain his desire to live and create, he left for Krasnoyarsk with his children, where he was spending a lot of time outdoors, traveling to local villages and talking with Siberians.
#5
Surikov was born in Krasnoyarsk and came from a Cossack family. He was familiar with Siberian fun and play since childhood. He depicted on canvas a winter frolic usually played on the last day of the Pancake Week. The players built a fortress from snow — a snow wall that could be decorated with merlons, cannons with cores, and figures. Then they doused the structure with water to enhance its solidity.
Afterwards the players were divided into two groups: the one to defend the fortress, another one to attack. The most courageous equestrian attackers tried to break through the wall, and the defenders by using shovels, brooms, twigs and gun shots tried to scare away the horses. Surikov depicted the climax moment when one of the horsemen finally takes the fortress.
#6
Surikov spent about two years on this canvas. The painter deliberately asked young people from the village of Ladeyka to build a fortress and arrange a demonstrative taking. The artist was making sketches of nature, capturing separately elements of clothing and utensils. He was painting quick portraits of his acquaintances in oil and water-colour to use them in characters' creation.
#7
Surikov depicted this scene from ordinary people’s life on purpose. He was a member of the Association of Itinerant Art Exhibitions, and the Itinerants aspired to show life of common people as it was. They contrasted realism with traditions of classicism and academism.
#8
Taking a Snow Fortress was shown for the first time at the 19th exhibition of the itinerants in 1891. Most viewers and critics did not understand the work. At the end of the 19th century, salon academic art with its antique and biblical themes was held in high esteem.
The audience did not appreciate the bright and variegated colors, a bit dirty tones. And its composition, unlike in well-constructed academic paintings, was considered overloaded with a large number of characters.
#9
In addition, Surikov was already known and appreciated as the author of tragic works on historical topics: Boyarynya Morozova, Morning of the Archery Execution. The influential newspaper Russkiye Vedomosti wrote: It is difficult to understand how an artist could put such a mere trifle into colossal frames… The content is poor, anecdotal.
#10
However, some critics admitted that Surikov was able to masterfully convey the image and colour of cheerful, energetic people, to embody the character of bold Siberian Cossacks. Nine years after the first exhibition, the canvas received a medal at the Paris World Exhibition.
#11
The painting was bought by a collector and philanthropist Vladimir von Mekk. In 1908, some of Surikov’s works from von Mekk’s collection, including Taking a Snow Fortress, were included in the collection of the Russian Museum.
#12
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Taking a Snow Fortress

Creation period
1891
Dimensions
156x282 cm
Technique
Canvas, oil
53
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Vasily SurikovCollection

The Crimea. Cliffs in Simeiz
The Crimea. Cliffs in Simeiz
Krasnoyarsk Art Museum named after V.I. Surikov
The sketch "Sea"
The sketch "Sea"
Murom History and Art Museum
Портрет профессора М.П. Черинова
Портрет профессора М.П. Черинова
Музей-усадьба В.И. Сурикова
Человек с больной рукой
Человек с больной рукой
The State Russian Museum
Портрет Александра Ивановича Сурикова
Портрет Александра Ивановича Сурикова
Музей-усадьба В.И. Сурикова
Портрет дяди художника Марка Васильевича
Портрет дяди художника Марка Васильевича
Музей-усадьба В.И. Сурикова
Старик – огородник
Старик – огородник
The State Russian Museum
Portrait of Z. Khaminova
Portrait of Z. Khaminova
Tomsk Regional Art Museum
Старый Красноярск
Старый Красноярск
Музей-усадьба В.И. Сурикова
Автопортрет
Автопортрет
The State Russian Museum
Мальчик на снегу
Мальчик на снегу
Музей-усадьба В.И. Сурикова
Portrait of Young Lady (Boyarishnya)
Portrait of Young Lady (Boyarishnya)
The Samara Regional Museum of Fine Arts
Взятие снежного городка
Взятие снежного городка
The State Russian Museum
A rower in a red shirt
A rower in a red shirt
Krasnoyarsk Regional Museum of Local History
Girl with braided hair
Girl with braided hair
Krasnoyarsk Art Museum named after V.I. Surikov
Portrait of O.M. Velichkina
Portrait of O.M. Velichkina
Krasnodar Museum named after F.A. Kovalenko
Гребец в красной рубахе
Гребец в красной рубахе
Музей-усадьба В.И. Сурикова
Сибирячка
Сибирячка
The State Russian Museum
Комнаты в красноярском доме Суриковых
Комнаты в красноярском доме Суриковых
Музей-усадьба В.И. Сурикова
Княгиня Ольга встречает тело Игоря
Княгиня Ольга встречает тело Игоря
The State Russian Museum
To see AR mode in action:
  1. Install ARTEFACT app for 
  2. iOS or Android;
  3. Find and download the «Paintings in Details» exhibition
  4. Push the «Augmented reality» button and point your phone's camera at the painting;
  5. Watch what happens on your phone screen whilst you flip through the pictures.
 
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