Viktor Borisov-Musatov Elpidiforovich

April 2, 1870 (Saratov) - October 26, 1905 (Tarusa)

painter, draftsman.

born in the family of a railroad employee. From 1881 studied drawing at the Saratov realschule led FA Vasilyev, VV Konovalov. In 1884, left school, while continuing to deal privately with VV Konovalova, took lessons from GP Salvini-Barakki. In August 1890 entered MUZhViZ, but in 1891, leaving college, went to St. Petersburg, where he entered a volunteer in the Imperial Academy of Arts. Attend a private workshop of Pavel Chistyakov.

In 1893 there was deterioration of health of the artist (in childhood Musatov, unsuccessfully having fallen, damaged spine). After the operation moved from St. Petersburg and Saratov. Some time later he returned to study in MUZhViZ. In the student years of contact with AK Shervashidze, VI Rossinskii, LA Sulerzhitskii, NP Ulyanov, A. C . Golubkina. In the summer of 1895 made a visit to the Crimea, the Caucasus.

In October 1895 went to Paris and entered the studio of F. Cormon. In 1897, 1898 visit to Munich, where he met with D. Kardovsky, I. Grabar, M. Verevkina. During studies in Paris, periodically returning to Saratov. In recent months stay in Paris acute disease of the spine, after the operation moved to the south of France, in Masseye. In 1898, finally returned from Paris in Saratov.

In 1899 he presented his studies at the 18 th periodic exhibition of the Moscow Society of Lovers of Art, participated in the organization of the exhibition the Society of Lovers of Fine Arts in the halls of the Saratov Museum. In 1899 he sent his work to the exhibition of the Moscow Association of Artists in Petersburg. In the same year became a member of the Moscow Association of Artists, has participated in exhibitions of the Association in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Saratov. In 1900 he went to St. Petersburg on 2-th exhibition "World of Art, where he met Sergei Diaghilev, Alexandre Benois, Konstantin Somov. In 1902, the acquaintance with VK Stanyukovich and his wife, which became the model for the artist, along with his sister and fiancee. (Sam VK Stanyukovich later wrote a book about creativity Borisov-Musatov.)

In 1903 the artist moved from Saratov in Podolsk. In 1904 at the initiative of Paul Cassirer, the owner of private galleries in Berlin, held a solo exhibition of works in Hamburg and Berlin. The artist and his wife visited Paris and Germany. Met abroad with AG Jawlensky, MV Verevkina, ES Kruglikova. In 1904 became a member of the Union of Russian Artists. In 1904 was recruited Bryusov as one of the designers of the new edition of the magazine "Libra" (completed drawing the cover page images, screensavers, and ending in the magazine number 2 for 1905). At the same time was an acquaintance with A. White.

In 1904 participated in the contest for the implementation of the thumbnail paintings to decorate the central hall of the building of the Office of the electric traction in Moscow in 1904-1905 created a series of sketches of wall panels on the theme of the seasons for the interior decoration of private houses in Moscow ( both of the paintings have not been implemented). In 1904, along with I. Repin, MAVrubel and others, has exhibited his works at the World's Fair in St. Louis (USA). In 1905, exhibited his work in the Salon of the National Society of Fine Arts in Paris, the exhibitions of the Union of Russian artists in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

In 1906, after the death of the artist, the exhibition "World of Art in St. Petersburg a separate room was dedicated to the works of Borisov-Musatov. Personal posthumous exhibition of his works were held in 1907 (Moscow), 1908 (St. Petersburg), 1917 (Moscow). Works of Borisov-Musatov represented in such museums in Russia, as the State Tretyakov Gallery, State Russian Museum, Saratov State Art Museum. Radishshev, Kiev State Museum of Russian Art, etc.

In the early stage of the creative ways painted landscapes and genre scenes in the Impressionist manner, sometimes with increased decorative beginning. Since 1901 the heyday of creativity begins with the establishment of such famous works as "Tapestry", "Pond," "Emerald Necklace," "Lady in Blue," "Requiem", etc. The works of this period depicted a stroll in the estate park girls in old-fashioned dresses, immersed in contemplation, striving to express the romantic dream of a beautiful world in which the person is in harmonious unity with nature. Seeking pending before the space plane, opacity, color strength, Borisov-Musatov made his easel paintings like monumental and decorative pictures or tapestries. Bright representative of Symbolism in Russian art. Influenced the work of artists of "Blue Rose».