Today in the Tretyakov Gallery, the project “The Golden Map of Russia” to open an exhibition of Alexei Isupova from the Kirov Regional Art Museum named after VM and AM Vasnetsov

Today, the Corps of Engineers State Tretyakov Gallery (Lavrushinsky trans., 12) within the framework of «The Golden Map of Russia» to open an exhibition of Alexei Isupova from the collection of the Kirov Regional Art Museum named after V. and A. M. Vasnetsov.

The exhibition shows the remarkable Russian artist in the mid-twentieth century, belonging to the artistic circles in Italy. Alexei Isupova Monographic exhibition timed to coincide with the two anniversary dates: 120-anniversary of the master and the 100 th anniversary of the Kirov Museum, one of the founders of which was that the painter and graphic artist, born in Vyatka.

The fate of Aleksei Vladimirovich Isupova (1889-1957) established so that the second half of the life he spent in Rome. Both Russian and Italian periods of his art appear in the exhibition, has incorporated works from 1910 on until the early 1950's. The artist worked in various genres, but in Russia he was known primarily as a landscape painter, in Rome, won fame master portrait.

The student AM Vasnetsov , AE Arkhipova , B. Serov and KA Korovin , Isupov included within the scope of Russian pleneristov. The formation of a master place in the first decades of the twentieth century. Even before graduating from the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture (1908-1912) he began to participate in exhibitions of the Union of Russian Artists and the Association of Artists Peredvizhniki, then the capital of painting competitions, and international projects.

exhibition opens early Isupova paintings: landscapes, which have brought him recognition ( «monastery», 1910; «Staraya Moskva. Neskuchnyi Garden», 1918), portraits and still lifes ( «Portrait of the artist's wife», «Still Life with kupavkami », two - 1918).

tendency to «displacement» landscape, broad panoramic species with slow rhythm of the spatial plans, yearning for contemplation, and appeared in Central Asia, where Isupov fell in the First World War. Mobilized in the army (1915), he was soon sent to Samarkand to the Commission on the Protection and restoration of ancient monuments and art, where he worked until 1921. Samarkand period devoted a special section of the exhibition. Painter attracted well as street scenes, bazaar, mixed crowd, and ancient architecture ( «Teahouse. By the pond», 1920; «Samarkand», 1921). Enrich and vysvetlilas his palette, the paintings filled with air, increased the genre started. At the same time felt an interest in Persian miniature Isupova ( «older brother», «Sold porcelain», two - 1921), paired with the original author's interpretation of icon-painting traditions: these works are painted with tempera on board.

Back in Moscow, a master in vain tried to establish itself in the Soviet art scene. Material difficulties forced him to join the AHRR - Association of Artists of Revolutionary Russia, writing portraits of political figures to take up subjects of revolution and the Red Army. Like many colleagues, Isupov tried himself in the design, theater and art Set even painted wine labels. This «transition» period reflected in the exhibition dotted unlike thirty years, which the author lived in Rome: they devoted the largest section of the exhibition.

In 1926 the artist traveled to Italy for treatment, where no longer able to return home, although until the end of days, dreamed about it. Foreign period proved to be fruitful and has revealed the new artist's talent: he turned to a variety of genres from still life to animals, especially love ippichesky (associated with the image of horses) genre, a lot of attention paid the drawing. However, in Rome, where dwelt Isupov, he gained popularity as a portraitist.

By the time the move to Italy has developed a master of your own style. True realist tradition and Russian Impressionism, Isupov showed keen interest in different directions in art. In Rome, his painting style has changed: the color became more vivid and intense, a composition - a concise, to the effect teatralizatsii. Created during this period of self-portraits and portraits are often built on the contrast of black and white with all shades of the richness that brings to mind the sophisticated painting of one of the teachers Isupova - Valentin Serov. Often these paintings appear to improvisation, but in reality each track carefully srezhissirovana in accordance with a task ( «Woman of Scanio», 1928; «Portrait of the artist's wife. In the distaff», 1930; «Self-portrait with the dog Vatrushkoy», 1942) . In addition to painting, the Italian section of the exhibition include drawings on the theme of circus and ballet, nudity, depictions of animals, they are in pencil, charcoal, sanguine, pastel.

Shortly after his arrival in Rome organized a solo exhibition of the artist, and later impressions of his works on personal and group exhibitions are regularly held in the capital of Italy, Milan, Turin and other cities. A lot of Isupova settled in Italian museums, including the Uffizi Gallery and private collections, where this artist is often the sole representative of the Moscow School of Painting.

The artist is buried at the Roman cemetery Testachcho, where lie the remains of the Russian «nevozvraschentsev», as Fedor Fedor Matveyev , Kiprensky , Carl Bryullov . After the death of Isupova, fulfilling the will, the widow brought his legacy in Russia. Works kept in the Tretyakov Gallery and other museums in Russia. The largest (about 300 pieces) collection of his works are transferred to the Kirov Museum, eager to show as fully as possible the artist-vyatichey. A demonstration in Moscow, about 50 paintings and 20 graphic works by Alexei Isupova, kirovchane bring tribute to one of the founders Vyatskiy art-historical museum.

The exhibition is open from 29 May to 2 Aug, 2009.

Source : a press release the State Tretyakov Gallery