Delicate Lyrics of a Landscape

A literary and visual exhibition "Delicate Lyricism of a Landscape" dedicated to the 160th anniversary of the outstanding Russian artist Isaak Levitan (1860-1900) is held in the Fine Arts Reading Room (room 306) from August 28 to September 29.

"He showered all his life, all his work on his beloved country, its nature with a fruitful rain, followed by a wonderful rainbow over the Russian landscape, through the gates of which all artists who love their country, their people, their nature should pass," said artist Georgy Nissky about Levitan.

The talented landscape painter's life and fate were not easy: the early death of both parents, constant lack of money, hunger and the struggle for a piece of bread at a very young age, ridicule and prejudice for Jewish origin, a prolonged illness that led to an untimely death in less than forty years... However, despite everything, the artist was able to show through his work an amazing harmony and beauty of the surrounding world, to capture all the charm and soulfulness of the nature of the Central Russia, its quiet and modest charm. “You don't need to beautify nature, you should feel its essence and free it from accidents,” considered the master.

You will see a number of reproductions of the artist's famous pieces, representing all the colours of the seasons at the exhibition: "Autumn Day". Sokolniki "," Golden Autumn "," Summer Evening ","Spring. Big Water”, “March”, “Winter in the Forest”. "Last Rays of the Sun", "Twilight. Haystacks", "Quiet Cloister" will bring tranquillity, calmness and quiet sadness. The epic work "Above Eternal Peace", filled with philosophical reflections on the life path of a person, the frailty of being, and eternity, will strike a chord. The dramatic canvas "Vladimirka" on which Levitan captured the infamous old Vladimir Road which led convicts to hard labour in Siberia, will not leave anyone indifferent.

The artist also made life-affirming works that capture nature in its prime. The exhibition features reproductions of paintings “Fresh Wind. Volga", "Birch Grove", "Bridge. Savvinskaya Sloboda" and others. The sunny Crimean and Italian landscapes, the harsh northern nature of Finland will impress you. The exposition will show the works created in the genre of portrait uncharacteristic for the artist, for example, "Portrait of Sofia Kuvshinnikova". "Bouquet of Cornflowers", "White Lilac", "Dandelions" will delight visitors with the painter's wonderful still lifes.

Catalogues of Isaac Levitan's exhibitions, articles about the painter, memories of him by contemporaries A. Chekhov, M. Nesterov, S. Kuvshinnikova, books about the artist S. Prorokova, V. Petrov, fundamental research by art critic A. Fedorov-Davydov complement the display. There will also be informative literature dedicated to the great landscape painter: the story "Isaac Levitan" by K. Paustovsky, the poem "Levitan" by I. Kalashnikov.

The opening hours of the exhibition correspond to the library’s opening hours.
Admission is by a library card or by the Social and Cultural Center ticket.

For more info: (8 017) 293 27 53.

Special Collections Service Department.