Paint like Bryullov: educational family workshop was held at the National Centre RUSSIA

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At the National Centre RUSSIA, large families and families of participants in the SMO took part in an art workshop dedicated to the great painter Karl Bryullov. The event was held on December 22 as part of the project "Masterpieces: The Best of Russia."

Participants attended an engaging lecture delivered by Oksana Ivanchikova, an art historian from the Tretyakov Gallery. Following this, under the guidance of Andrei Remnev, an associate professor from the Department of Painting and Composition at the Moscow State Academic Art Institute named after V. I. Surikov, they tried their hand at recreating a fragment of the painting "Italian Midday." 

"The main mission of the National Centre, as outlined by the President, is to promote our traditional values. This is precisely what our workshops are dedicated to, as fine art is something without which our culture cannot exist. We have more educational and exciting workshops ahead," said Anastasia Zvyagina, Deputy Director General of the National Centre RUSSIA, addressing the participants.

December marked 225 years since the birth of Karl Bryullov. Currently, the exposition "The Great Karl" is being held in St. Petersburg, showcasing the artist's work. Next year, Bryullov's paintings and all aspects of his creative legacy will also be presented in the capital. Yelena Kharlamova, Director of the Department of Museums and Support for Circus Arts at the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, invited all workshop participants to the grand opening of the exposition.

"The National Centre RUSSIA brings together various directions. It is amazing that today I participated in an event dedicated to the work of Karl Pavlovich Bryullov. He was the first Russian artist recognized in Europe, marking the beginning of worldwide acknowledgment of Russian painting," noted Yelena Kharlamova. 

Before the workshop, guests attended a lecture on Bryullov's biography and artistic journey. Art historian Oksana Ivanchikova shared that the future genius took his first steps in painting thanks to the strict upbringing of his father, who quickly recognized his son's talent. The expert spoke about Bryullov's years of study and early successes, including his collection of all the possible awards from the Imperial Academy of Arts. Guests also learned that the invasion of Napoleon into Russia significantly influenced the artist's character development.

"The War with Napoleon, 1812. Bryullov and his fellow students endured the Battle of Borodino and the fire in Moscow. Along with the entire country, he rejoiced when Napoleon was driven out of Russia. It was then that he made a decision: though not on the battlefield, he would defend his country through painting. And indeed, this artist brought glory to Russian art," noted the art historian. 

The lecture provided many fascinating details about the painter's famous works. His greatest triumph was the painting "The Last Day of Pompeii," which earned Bryullov worldwide fame. Following this, the Russian emperor personally commissioned him to create a painting dedicated to the defense of Pskov. Today, "The Siege of Pskov by Polish King Stephen Bathory in 1581" is part of the Tretyakov Gallery's collection in Moscow.

In addition to historical themes, Bryullov became renowned for his exquisite portraits: "The Horsewoman," as well as portraits of Ivan Krylov and Maria Stolypina. The pinnacle of his creativity can also be considered his self-portrait, which subtly conveys the emotional state of the gravely ill Bryullov. 

The guests learned how paintings are studied by various specialists at the Tretyakov Gallery. It turns out that painting masterpieces can also "fall ill": samples are taken from them, just like from people, and then they are sent for treatment — restoration. Using infrared radiation and X-rays, it is possible to uncover the secrets of famous works hidden from the naked eye. For instance, specialists can discover how a painting originally looked like and what the artist altered before completing it.

The practical part of the event was just as captivating as the theoretical one. Under the guidance of experienced artist Andrei Remnev, the guests depicted a grape cluster — a fragment from one of Bryullov's most famous paintings, "Italian Midday." The artist shared the secrets of working with light and shadow, explained how to correctly combine colors, including warm and cool tones, and his students assisted participants whenever they encountered difficulties. 

“We came to the master class as a family. It was very exciting; we prepared in advance by studying information about the artist. But here, from the staff of the Tretyakov Gallery, we learned so many fascinating details that we would never have found online. We also loved the drawing lesson itself: everything was so well-organized that even without any drawing skills, we managed to create something beautiful and enjoyed it immensely. We are thrilled and hope to come back soon,” shared participant Taisiya Drobzheva.

In November, the National Centre RUSSIA launched a project dedicated to popularizing Russian art and strengthening family values. The series of events, united under the name "Masterpieces. The Best of Russia," began with an educational family master class, "Draw Like Vasnetsov." 

The next master class will take place on January 12 and will be dedicated to the works of Ivan Shishkin.

The National Centre RUSSIA was established by order of the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, to preserve the legacy of the International RUSSIA EXPO and to showcase the achievements of the country and its citizens on a permanent basis. Federal government agencies, state companies, corporations, and regions take part in the Centre’s work.

The National Centre RUSSIA is located at 14 Krasnopresnenskaya Embankment, Moscow. The Centre is open from 10:00 to 20:00 every day except Monday.