Orest Kiprensky

 Self-portrait in a Pink Neck-tie. 1809. Oil

 Orest Kiprensky. Self-Portrait with
on canvas. The Russian Museum, St. Brushes. 1804. Oil on canvas. The
Petersburg, Russia Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow, Russia
 Biography
 Born March 24th, 1782 in Koporye Russia
 Was the illegitimate son of land owner Alexey Dyakonov and one of his
serfs
 Was adopted by another serf, Adam Schvalber and granted his freedom at
birth
 His last name was derived from the name of the town he was born in.
 Biological father helped him get into the Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg
in 1788 where he was trained as a historical painter (considered the highest
achievement for an artist)
 Graduated from Academy in 1803, but remained for 3 years working as a
Pensioner to help him fulfill the requirements needed to win The Major
Gold Medal
 Orest had to create a large historical painting to achieve this task.
Prince Dmitry Donskoy after the Kulikov Battle

During Napoleon's invasion of 1812 Kiprensky became well known for
painting portraits of those who fought against the French.
 Post-war, he became a master of Portraiture.
 In 1816 he finally went to Europe to study “the art of the old Masters” for 7
years. He studied specifically in Rome.
 It was in Italy that, among other portraits, he did “Girl Wearing the Poppy
Wreath” also called “Mariucci” which was of a small girl he later bought from
her “dissolute” mother and adopted.
 The girl's real name was Anne Maria Falcucci
 Upon his departure from Italy, he deposited his ward at a Catholic Convent.
 Upon returning to Russia, he continued to do portraits, as they were his favorite
genre.
 He returned to Italy in 1828 when he got word that Mariucci had been
misplaced.
 Kiprensky found that Mariucci had been moved to another
convent, and remained in Rome to work.
 In July of 1836 he was able to retrieve his adopted daughter
from the convent, and subsequently marry her.
 He died three months after their wedding on October 5th,
1836 of Pneumonia.
 He was buried in Rome.
 His daughter, Constance, was born after his death.
 Style
 Was thought of as one of Russia's foremost Romantic artists
 He was known for his portraits more then the historic paintings he was
trained for
 Was trained to draw, but much preferred to paint
 Was not one for composition, but like Rembrandt, was much more
attuned to color usage and light play
 It was said that his best works were his self portraits due to the artistic
freedom. They do not look alike, and speak to how he played with color
rather than form.
 Is thought to have done the opposite of most artists whereas he BEGAN
at the top of his art and in a Romantic phase, and dwindled to mediocrity
and old painting styles.
 Orest
Kiprensky.
Girl Wearing
the Poppy
Wreath. 1819.
Oil on
canvas. The
Tretyakov
Gallery.
Moscow,
Russia.
 Orest Kiprensky.
Sibyl of Delphi.
(Portrait of N. S.
Semenova.) 1828.
Oil on canvas. The
Theater Museum of
A. A. Bakhrushin,
Moscow, Russia.
 Orest Kiprensky as a Romantic
 Was a forerunner in the art world of establishing a type of art that was
uniquely “Russian”
 In doing Portraits of those that fought the French, and many Portraits of
Royalty Kiprensky upheld the pride Russia felt in deflecting Napoleon
and establishing Patriotism of some sort.
 His focus on color and lighting rather than form were, again, unique
attributes Russians used to claim as their own style
 Later works were influenced by European countries such as Italy, and
therefore contributed to some Russians desire to utilize European cultures
to create their own styles.
 His wait to marry his beloved adopted daughter, followed almost
immediately by his death, all before he ever saw his only child born, were
also Romantic instances in his life by Russian Romantic standards.
 Orest Kiprensky. Portrait
of Alexander Pushkin.
1827. Oil on canvas. The
Tretyakov Gallery.
Moscow, Russia