The exhibition is dedicated to the 165th anniversary of the birth of the great painter Isaac Ilyich Levitan (1860–1900). The exposition has gathered 29 works by Levitan, as well as works by his mentors – Alexei Savrasov and Vasily Polenov, who made a huge contribution to his development as an artist.
Levitan's creativity cannot be imagined without the influence of Savrasov, who passed on to his student a love for the “mood landscape”, and Polenov, whose lessons helped him develop a sense of light and aerial perspective. It was within the walls of the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture that the future master found his path in art.
At the center of the exposition is a rare opportunity to see one of Levitan's earliest known landscapes “Sunny Day. Spring”. Painted at the age of 16, it is imbued with sincerity and warmth. The artist conveys the atmosphere of a clear May day: on the lawn in front of a village house, the young painter enthusiastically captured the first lush greenery. In this work, the influence of Savrasov is noticeable, whose poetic view of nature inspired Levitan to search for his own style.
Another significant exhibit is a study for the painting “Vladimirka” (1892), painted during a trip to the Vladimir region. This road, along which exiles were once sent to Siberia, deeply impressed Levitan. He repeatedly returned here, creating sketches that eventually led to the birth of one of his most expressive canvases.
The influence of Savrasov and Polenov on the young artist cannot be overlooked. Perhaps Levitan was inspired by Savrasov's landscape “Spring” (1874) with its modest village yards and melting snow, in which the master incredibly subtly captured the poetry of nature. Or by Polenov's studies, where sunlight and the airiness of the image play the main role.
The exposition is complemented by a portrait of Levitan created by Polenov. Contemporaries noted the harmony and nobility of his features, and Vasily Dmitrievich himself repeatedly asked the landscape painter to pose for him – including for the image of Christ.
