2. Ivan Aivazovsky

1. Before reading

1. If you are asked about Aivazovsky “s pictures, how will you describe them in one word? Do you like such painting? Do you know how he created his masterpieces?

2. Work in small groups. Divide a sheet of paper into two columns:

1) What I know about a person I am going to read, what he is famous for

2) What questions I would like to be answered and ask my partner and the teacher

II. While reading

1. Scan the text and find the facts that you didn't know. 2. Have you learned something interesting and impressive about this person?

An outstanding artist, a bard of the sea, Aivazovsky was born on 29 July 1817 in Feodosia in the family of an Armenian tradesman.

He was fond of drawing since early childhood. The legends about the boy, who drew pictures on the house walls in the Armenian Quarter are still alive. Thanks to the governor of Taurida A.I.Kaznatcheyev, the talented teenager was accepted to Taurida Gymnasia in 1831, and in 1833 he entered the Imperial Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg from which he graduated with a big gold medal.

It became clear from his first steps in art that he had a rare gift of a seascapes painter. While he was still in the Academy, his creative work was noticed by his great contemporaries: A.Pushkin, V.Zhukovs'kyi, I.Krylov, K.Briullov.M.Hlinka.

After two years of independent work in the Crimea, I.K.Aivazovsky went to Italy to continue his education. He went there being a mature master, who had acquired all the best traditions of Russian art.

Four years he spent abroad were marked with great fruitful work. Mean­while I.K.Aivazovsky became the most famous artist in Italy.

In 1844 I.K.Aivazovsky came back to his motherland as an acknowledged painter of seascapes, and a member of four European Academies. After his return he became a member of St. Petersburg Academy of Arts and was an appointed painter of the Chief Naval Headquarters. At that time he wasn't even thirty. A splendid artistic education, dazzling creative success, the world fame lay behind him.

In 1845-1848 the artist was designing and building a big house. Accord­ing to the architectural and ornamental arrangements, the house was built in the Italian Renaissance Villa style, decorated with casts of antique statues. A spacious studio adjoined the living rooms, there he created the best and most part of his 6000 paintings. Such artists as I.Shyshkin, I.Repin, a well-known collector P.Tretiakov visited this studio. A lot of talented Aivazovsky's pupils were taught there.

In 1880 I.K. Aivazovsky built a large exhibition hall, right beside his house. The official opening of the gallery was timed for his birthday and took place on 29 July 1880.

A special stage was constructed in the gallery. Famous musicians A.Rubinstein, G.Venyavsky, a composer A.Spendiarov, the Mariyinsky The­atre actors M. and N.Figner and others performed on it.

Now the number of works has grown up to 417. The collection is com­posed in such a way that one could follow the 63 year evolution of the master.

The Ukrainian nature has a special place among his creations. "Rushes on the Dnieper" (1857), "Caravan ofChumak Carts" (186^ "Harvest-Time in Ukraine" (1883), "Wedding in Ukraine". The profound knowledge and un­derstanding of Ukrainian nature and people, the finesse of the art are clearly seen in these canvases.

Ivan Konstantynovych was a passionate traveller. His passport for trav­elling abroad with 135 visas of different places in the world is one of the museum fund's unique exhibits. Journeys gave him fresh impressions, origi­nated new images, enriched him with knowledge and skills. As a result of his travels Aivazovsky created "Malaga" (1854), "Sunset t^ear Nice" (1845), "Italian Landscape. Evening" (1858), "The Island of Rhodes" (1861) and others.

At the age of 80 Aivazovsky painted a grand canvas "Amid the Waves" (1898) which became the result of his brilliant career.

Aivazovsky's art is full of extraordinary power of talent and inspiration, and nobody remains unmoved by it.