Ivan Nikitich Nikitin
Encyclopedia
Ivan Nikitich Nikitin was a Russia
n painter, an author of portraits and battle paintings.
Ivan Nikitin was born in Moscow
to a family of an Orthodox
priest. He received his first artistic lessons from a Dutch artist Schwonbek at the engraving shop of the Kremlin Armoury
. In 1711 the Armory together with Ivan Nikitin was moved to Saint Petersburg
. In 1716-1720 he and his brother Roman Nikitin were sent to Italy
by Peter the Great
. The brothers learnt the art of painting at Florence
and Venice
. After returning to Russia
Nikitin became the favorite court painter of Peter the Great. He worked in Moscow and Saint Petersburg.
After Peter's death in 1725 Nikitin continued to work at the court until 1732, when he and his brothers Roman and Rodion (the dean of Cathedral of the Annunciation
in Moscow Kremlin
) were arrested for the distribution of pamphlets against vice-Procurator of Synod
Feofan Prokopovich
. Ivan was tortured, for five years imprisoned in the Peter and Paul Fortress
, then whipped and exiled to Tobolsk
.
In 1740 Anna of Russia
signed an amnesty for the brothers. The amnesty came into force in 1741. By request of the new Empress Elizabeth of Russia travelled back from Tobolsk
to Saint Petersburg and died somewhere on the road either in late 1741 or in early 1742.
, rigid local colors, dark backgrounds. The later portraits are typical Baroque
paintings. Most art historians consider the Nikitin's bets portraits to be Chancellor G. I. Golovkin and A Malorossian Hetman. There are problems with attributing of the subject of the portrait, with different historian arguing that he is Ivan Mazepa
or Ivan Skoropadsky
or Kazimir Ian Sapega, or Pavlo Polubotok
, but they all are equal in emphasising the psychological depth of the portrait.
Besides portraits Ivan Nikitin also considered to be the first notable Russian battle painter due to his paintings Battle of Poltava
and Battle of Kulikovo
.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n painter, an author of portraits and battle paintings.
Biography
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
to a family of an Orthodox
Russian Orthodox Church
The Russian Orthodox Church or, alternatively, the Moscow Patriarchate The ROC is often said to be the largest of the Eastern Orthodox churches in the world; including all the autocephalous churches under its umbrella, its adherents number over 150 million worldwide—about half of the 300 million...
priest. He received his first artistic lessons from a Dutch artist Schwonbek at the engraving shop of the Kremlin Armoury
Kremlin Armoury
The Kremlin Armory is one of the oldest museums of Moscow, established in 1808 and located in the Moscow Kremlin .The Kremlin Armoury originated as the royal arsenal in 1508. Until the transfer of the court to St Petersburg, the Armoury was in charge of producing, purchasing and storing weapons,...
. In 1711 the Armory together with Ivan Nikitin was moved to Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
. In 1716-1720 he and his brother Roman Nikitin were sent to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
by Peter the Great
Peter I of Russia
Peter the Great, Peter I or Pyotr Alexeyevich Romanov Dates indicated by the letters "O.S." are Old Style. All other dates in this article are New Style. ruled the Tsardom of Russia and later the Russian Empire from until his death, jointly ruling before 1696 with his half-brother, Ivan V...
. The brothers learnt the art of painting at Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
and Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
. After returning to Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
Nikitin became the favorite court painter of Peter the Great. He worked in Moscow and Saint Petersburg.
After Peter's death in 1725 Nikitin continued to work at the court until 1732, when he and his brothers Roman and Rodion (the dean of Cathedral of the Annunciation
Cathedral of the Annunciation
The Cathedral of the Annunciation is a Russian Orthodox church dedicated to the Annunciation of the Theotokos. It is located on the southwest side of Cathedral Square of the Moscow Kremlin in Russia, where it connects directly to the main building of the complex of the Grand Kremlin Palace,...
in Moscow Kremlin
Moscow Kremlin
The Moscow Kremlin , sometimes referred to as simply The Kremlin, is a historic fortified complex at the heart of Moscow, overlooking the Moskva River , Saint Basil's Cathedral and Red Square and the Alexander Garden...
) were arrested for the distribution of pamphlets against vice-Procurator of Synod
Synod
A synod historically is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. In modern usage, the word often refers to the governing body of a particular church, whether its members are meeting or not...
Feofan Prokopovich
Feofan Prokopovich
thumb|Theophan ProkopovichFeofan/Theophan Prokopovich was an archbishop and statesman in the Russian Empire, of Ukrainian descent. He elaborated and implemented Peter the Great's reform of the Russian Orthodox Church...
. Ivan was tortured, for five years imprisoned in the Peter and Paul Fortress
Peter and Paul Fortress
The Peter and Paul Fortress is the original citadel of St. Petersburg, Russia, founded by Peter the Great in 1703 and built to Domenico Trezzini's designs from 1706-1740.-History:...
, then whipped and exiled to Tobolsk
Tobolsk
Tobolsk is a town in Tyumen Oblast, Russia, located at the confluence of the Tobol and Irtysh Rivers. It is a historic capital of Siberia. Population: -History:...
.
In 1740 Anna of Russia
Anna of Russia
Anna of Russia or Anna Ivanovna reigned as Duchess of Courland from 1711 to 1730 and as Empress of Russia from 1730 to 1740.-Accession to the throne:Anna was the daughter of Ivan V of Russia, as well as the niece of Peter the Great...
signed an amnesty for the brothers. The amnesty came into force in 1741. By request of the new Empress Elizabeth of Russia travelled back from Tobolsk
Tobolsk
Tobolsk is a town in Tyumen Oblast, Russia, located at the confluence of the Tobol and Irtysh Rivers. It is a historic capital of Siberia. Population: -History:...
to Saint Petersburg and died somewhere on the road either in late 1741 or in early 1742.
Works
The early portraits by Nikitin had a strong influence of the traditional 17th century parsuna style: no perspectivePerspective (graphical)
Perspective in the graphic arts, such as drawing, is an approximate representation, on a flat surface , of an image as it is seen by the eye...
, rigid local colors, dark backgrounds. The later portraits are typical Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
paintings. Most art historians consider the Nikitin's bets portraits to be Chancellor G. I. Golovkin and A Malorossian Hetman. There are problems with attributing of the subject of the portrait, with different historian arguing that he is Ivan Mazepa
Ivan Mazepa
Ivan Stepanovych Mazepa , Cossack Hetman of the Hetmanate in Left-bank Ukraine, from 1687–1708. He was famous as a patron of the arts, and also played an important role in the Battle of Poltava where after learning of Peter I's intent to relieve him as acting Hetman of Ukraine and replace him...
or Ivan Skoropadsky
Ivan Skoropadsky
Ivan Skoropadsky was a Hetman of the Ukrainian Cossacks, and the successor to the famous Hetman Ivan Mazepa.- Biography:...
or Kazimir Ian Sapega, or Pavlo Polubotok
Pavlo Polubotok
Pavlo Polubotok , was a Cossack political and military leader and Acting Hetman of the Left-bank Ukraine between 1722 and 1724.- Biography :...
, but they all are equal in emphasising the psychological depth of the portrait.
Besides portraits Ivan Nikitin also considered to be the first notable Russian battle painter due to his paintings Battle of Poltava
Battle of Poltava
The Battle of Poltava on 27 June 1709 was the decisive victory of Peter I of Russia over the Swedish forces under Field Marshal Carl Gustav Rehnskiöld in one of the battles of the Great Northern War. It is widely believed to have been the beginning of Sweden's decline as a Great Power; the...
and Battle of Kulikovo
Battle of Kulikovo
The Battle of Kulikovo was a battle between Tatar Mamai and Muscovy Dmitriy and portrayed by Russian historiography as a stand-off between Russians and the Golden Horde. However, the political situation at the time was much more complicated and concerned the politics of the Northeastern Rus'...
.
External links
- Nikitin's site - in Russian
- Biography - in Russian
- Biography - in Russian