Konstantin Makovsky was a Russian painter. He studied at the Moscow school of painting, sculpture and architecture, and then at the Imperial Academy of Arts. He did not finish it, because he became a member of the “Revolt of the fourteen”: graduates of the Academy refused to paint their exam canvases on a given topic and left the school. They organized a partnership of independent artists — a kind of commune, the forerunner of the future famous association.
In the 1880s, Konstantin Makovsky became known as a fashionable author of portraits and historical paintings. He became one of the best-paid Russian painters of his time. He was called the “court painter”. The representatives of the most distinguished noble families — the Stroganovs, Yusupovs, and Volkonskys ordered their portraits from Makovsky. The artist recalled: The best beauties were competing to pose for me… I earnt a lot of money, my living was really luxurious and I made an immense number of pictures, decorative panels, portraits, sketches and watercolors.’
Konstantin Makovsky’s painting style includes some features of different styles. He created his artworks in academic style, using the art nouveau techniques, in many paintings there are remarkable elements of the baroque style. Makovsky was a master of composition, color and lighting, he carefully painted the details of costumes and accessories, and his skill of painting was comparable to the skill of the Paris Salon artists where he enjoyed the honorary right to exhibit his artworks “outside the competition”.
One of the artist’s most popular portrait artworks were ‘women’s heads’. For example, the painting from our collection “Women”s head. A girl dressed like Flora” In the character’s face of you can notice the features of one of Makovsky’s wives, and the features of those beautiful Italian women whom he saw during his travel abroad. In general, this is a collective image of a young beauty of the late 19th — early 20th century. She has a wealth of hair, dressed casually, a delicate oval face, large eyes, bright lips, and a refined neck. The shoulders are covered with a translucent gauze cloth and a scattering of flowers associated with the image of Flora — the ancient Roman goddess of flowers and spring.
In the 1880s, Konstantin Makovsky became known as a fashionable author of portraits and historical paintings. He became one of the best-paid Russian painters of his time. He was called the “court painter”. The representatives of the most distinguished noble families — the Stroganovs, Yusupovs, and Volkonskys ordered their portraits from Makovsky. The artist recalled: The best beauties were competing to pose for me… I earnt a lot of money, my living was really luxurious and I made an immense number of pictures, decorative panels, portraits, sketches and watercolors.’
Konstantin Makovsky’s painting style includes some features of different styles. He created his artworks in academic style, using the art nouveau techniques, in many paintings there are remarkable elements of the baroque style. Makovsky was a master of composition, color and lighting, he carefully painted the details of costumes and accessories, and his skill of painting was comparable to the skill of the Paris Salon artists where he enjoyed the honorary right to exhibit his artworks “outside the competition”.
One of the artist’s most popular portrait artworks were ‘women’s heads’. For example, the painting from our collection “Women”s head. A girl dressed like Flora” In the character’s face of you can notice the features of one of Makovsky’s wives, and the features of those beautiful Italian women whom he saw during his travel abroad. In general, this is a collective image of a young beauty of the late 19th — early 20th century. She has a wealth of hair, dressed casually, a delicate oval face, large eyes, bright lips, and a refined neck. The shoulders are covered with a translucent gauze cloth and a scattering of flowers associated with the image of Flora — the ancient Roman goddess of flowers and spring.
