Nesterov, Mikhail Vasilyevich

May 19, 1862 (Ufa) - 1942 (Moscow)

painter, graphic artist, muralist.

occurred from a merchant family. Original art education in school Ufa (1872-1874) at the VP Travkina, then engaged in real college KP Resurrection in Moscow (1874-1876) by A. P . Drabova. In 1876 entered MUZhViZ, studied in E. Sorokin, Perov, IM Pryanishnikova, Vladimir Makovsky. In 1881 he moved to St. Petersburg, where he was engaged in IAH at VP Vereshchagin, V. Jacobi, P. Chistyakov. Advice of Kramskoy. In 1883 because of dissatisfaction with the system of training in the Academy returned to Moscow and resumed classes in MUZhViZ. In 1885, a sketch of the composition "The Calling of Michael's in the realm of" awarded neklassnogo (free), painter, in 1886 for his film "Before the monarch petitioner" has been awarded a large silver medal, received the title of the class artist, a year later - Society for the Encouragement of Arts Award. In 1886-1887 attended polenovskie drawing evening. Since 1887 has participated in exhibitions of the Moscow Society of Art Lovers, from 1889 - TPHV.

In mid-1880's a lot to book and magazine graphics, completed the illustrations for the novels Melnikov Crypt "In the woods," Leo Tolstoy " Anna Karenina, Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov ". Collaborated in the journals "Rainbow", "Niva", "World illustration", "North».

At the end of 1880 made friends with members of the Abramtsevo artistic circle. In 1888, he worked on paintings in Abramtzevo "Hermit" and "For privorotnym potion" in 1889-1890 wrote "Vision lad Bartholomew, in 1891 -" Boyhood Sergius. They brought fame Nesterov, "Traveler" and "Vision lad Bartholomew" was purchased by PM Tretyakov. In the future, among the collectors of works Nesterova were such well-known collectors of Russian art, as I. Ostroukhov and IP Kharitonenko.

In 1890-1910 he lived in Kiev, where he studied paintings Vladimir's Cathedral (1891-1895). In 1893, for the study of Byzantine mosaics made a trip to Turkey, Greece and Italy. In 1894-1895 the sketch mosaics for the church of Resurrection (Savior on Spilled Blood) in St. Petersburg. In 1895 he visited Pereslavl-Zaleski, Rostov, Yaroslavl, Kostroma.

in 1898 for his film "The Great Veil" was awarded the title of academician. In the same year exhibited his work at the Munich Secession. In 1899, 1901 participated in the exhibitions "World of Art". In 1900, for painting "Under the bells" and "Miracle" was awarded a silver medal at the World Exhibition in Paris in 1905 for his film "Holy Russia" - a gold medal at the International Art Exhibition in Munich. In 1903 he co-founded the Union of Russian Artists. In 1904 completed a mural in the church of Alexander Nevsky in Abastuman.

in 1900 met with Maxim Gorky, in 1906 and 1907, staying with Leo Tolstoy in Yasnaya, in 1907 became friendly with VV Rozanov, 1910 x-attended meeting of the Religious-Philosophical Society Solv'yev. In 1909 he became one of the initiators of the opening in Ufa Aksakov's popular at home with an art gallery. In 1907, in St. Petersburg was the first exhibition of the artist. In 1909-1914 worked on the iconostasis and murals of the church of the Protection of Our Lady Martha and Maria monastery in Moscow.

In 1910 he was elected a member of the IAH in 1915 - an honorary trustee of the museum in Ufa, the basis of which was a collection of works by Russian artists, donated Nesterov city.

After the October Revolution of 1917, along with his brothers VM and AM Vasnetsov worked device in Abramtzevo museum. Do not become involved in the plan of monumental propaganda, left Moscow in Armavir, where he lived until 1920. His Moscow studio was ruined. In 1922, Nesterov works were exhibited at the First Russian Art Exhibition in the Van Diemen Gallery in Berlin, in 1924-1925 - at the exhibition of Russian art in New York. In the 1920 - 1930 performed a series of grand portraits of Russian (Soviet) culture: Vasnetsov (1925), I. Alyabiev (1925), P. ; D. and A. Corinne (1930), ID Shadrov (1934), Pavlov (1935), ES Kruglikova ( 1938), VI Mukhina (1940), Shchusev (1941) and others. At the same time creating landscapes and compositions on religious subjects, in the spirit of earlier works.

in 1935 in the Pushkin Museum in Moscow held a personal exhibition Nesterov. Retrospective exhibition of paintings have been arranged in Moscow (1943, 1947, 1952, 1962, 1990), Ufa (1962, 1983, 1992), Leningrad (1962), Kiev (1963).

Nesterov - one of the greatest masters of Russian art of the last third of XIX - first half of the twentieth century. In the early works written genre paintings in the spirit of Peredvizhnichestvo. Since the 1890's developed in his works, religious and philosophical themes, creating compositions on subjects of Christian history. Develop his own style and distinctive features of which are narrative, decorative, flatness, simplicity and expressiveness of the motive, contemplative, restrained muted color range, which is dominated by greenish-brown tone. He was one of the best portrait painters of his time, knew how masterfully reveal the psychology of the facial image.

Nesterova works are in many museum and private collections, including the State Tretyakov Gallery, State Russian Museum and the Kiev Museum of Russian Art, the Museum-Reserve "Abramtzevo, Samara Regional Art Museum, Astrakhan State Picture Gallery and others.