Presidential Library marks 225th Karl Bryullov's anniversary

On December 23, 1799, in St. Petersburg, an outstanding artist and representative of Russian Romanticism, Karl Bryullov was born. He was a fervent lover of life and nature and left behind brilliantly embodied images of his contemporaries for future generations.

In book Karl Bryullov and His Significance in Russian Art (1899), which is available on the Presidential Library's portal, art historian Andrei Somov provides a detailed account of the life and works of the famous artist.

The family of Bryullov originates from France. One member of this family, Georg Brullo, came to St. Petersburg in 1773 and worked as a sculptor at the Imperial Porcelain Factory. His grandson, Pavel (Paul), grew up in St. Petersburg and became a master of woodcarving and miniature painting. He married twice and had one son from his first marriage and three sons in his second marriage, one of whom was Karl and who gained worldwide fame.

The aspiring artist studied quickly and brilliantly, receiving high marks in almost all his exams. In his young works, Bryullov used not just knowledge of academic drawing, but also his ability to give the forms of the human body life and grace.

In 1821, he graduated from the Academy with a first-degree certificate and a gold medal, which opened up the prospect of traveling abroad for him at government expense. The Society for the Encouragement of Artists appreciated his extraordinary abilities and decided to send him on a trip with his brother, Alexander, an architect. Having received instructions on what to study, the Bryullov brothers left St. Petersburg on August 16, 1822.

During this time in his life, Bryullov worked hard. Shortly before his death, Emperor Alexander I awarded him with five thousand rubles per year "for the creation of copies of some of the most notable works of Italian painting". Russian artists who were living abroad, including Bryullov, were given significant commissions.

Karl was commissioned to create a copy of Raphael's The School of Athens, but he was also constantly searching for a subject that would bring glory to his name.

At that time, Giovanni Pacini's opera The Last Day of Pompeii was a big success on the stages of Italian theaters. Bryullov, who had visited Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius, was deeply impressed by the ruins of the ancient city. He decided to recreate the scenes of its destruction on a large canvas, and it took him two years to complete his famous masterpiece.

Before the painting was finished, Rome was already talking about "a wonderful work of art created by a Russian artist." When the public was finally able to see it, everyone was amazed. No other artist in Italy had ever been so admired as the creator of "The Last Day of Pompeii." His name became famous, and people showed their respect for him by taking off their hats when he passed by on the street. In theaters, they stood up to greet him as the "great master."

News of Bryullov's success in Italy also reached Russia. In St. Petersburg and Moscow, there was only talk about the great artist who had glorified Russia in the eyes of Europe. After the exhibition in Paris, his painting was brought to St. Petersburg, where it was first displayed at the Winter Palace and then at the Academy of Fine Arts.

The artist himself arrived in St. Petersburg on the Neva River in May 1836 after a fourteen-year absence. He was honored at the Academy of Arts, and a large workshop was soon prepared for him in this educational institution. This workshop was soon filled with his new works.

At this time, the artist began work on an important government commission - the decoration of the main altar of the Kazan Cathedral. He painted the image of The Assumption of the Virgin Mary, which is a unique plot in Orthodoxy. This task, which was not typical for his faith, required the artist (a supporter of the Evangelical Reformed Church) to "think deeply and spend a lot of time on technical work". The canvas remained empty for a long time and the sketch of the image was drawn on a small piece of paper.

While fulfilling this important state order, Bryullov also found time to create ceremonial portraits of members of the imperial family and other prominent figures of Russia. The artist was at the height of his fame at this time.

Meanwhile, construction of St. Isaac's Cathedral was nearing completion and all the top muralists were called upon to decorate the interior of the building, which was to surpass all other Russian churches in grandeur.

Bryullov, the first among Russian painters, was commissioned to paint the dome of the tower. He was delighted with the order. However, at this time, his serious illness worsened, and in 1848, he had to give up his work on the St. Isaac's Cathedral. Academician Peter Basin, an honored professor of the Imperial Academy of Arts, graduated according to sketches by Bryullov.

Medical help eased Bryullov's suffering a little, but the doctors advised him to seek salvation in a different climate. He decided to return to Italy, but even there, medicine proved powerless. In June 1852, he was transported to Marciano near Rome, where he felt better for a short time, but his condition worsened again. When the doctors arrived, it was too late - the creator of "Pompeii" had passed away.

The Presidential Library's collection includes handwritten and printed documents related to the history of the Bryullov family. These documents include the Bryullov Archive owned by V. A. Bryullov, as well as an extract from documents regarding the election of K. P. Bryullov as an honorary member of the Milan Academy of Fine Arts and a professor at the Florentine Academy of Arts. Additionally, there is a noble letter addressed to A. P. Bryullov (with a custodian).