📆 July 29th marks the 207th anniversary of the birth of Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky, the renowned Russian painter celebrated worldwide for his marine paysages.
Aivazovsky was a pioneer among Russian landscape artists, elevating the sea as a distinct theme and symbol in his works.
🎨 His success stemmed from not just talent but also from relentless dedication and diligence. Over his lifetime, he created approximately 6,000 paintings, often working with remarkable speed.
For instance, he could finish a medium-sized painting in just two hours, while his famous work "The Ninth Wave" was completed in a mere 11 days.
Most of his masterpieces, including "The Ninth Wave," were crafted in his studio in Feodosia, Crimea. Aivazovsky believed capturing natural phenomena from life was impractical due to their ever-changing nature.
🇷🇺❤️ Aivazovsky expressed his deep devotion to his homeland, Russia, saying, "I, like a bee, gather honey from the garden to bring a grateful offering to Mother Russia" regarding his art.
#RussianCulture
Aivazovsky was a pioneer among Russian landscape artists, elevating the sea as a distinct theme and symbol in his works.
🎨 His success stemmed from not just talent but also from relentless dedication and diligence. Over his lifetime, he created approximately 6,000 paintings, often working with remarkable speed.
For instance, he could finish a medium-sized painting in just two hours, while his famous work "The Ninth Wave" was completed in a mere 11 days.
Most of his masterpieces, including "The Ninth Wave," were crafted in his studio in Feodosia, Crimea. Aivazovsky believed capturing natural phenomena from life was impractical due to their ever-changing nature.
🇷🇺❤️ Aivazovsky expressed his deep devotion to his homeland, Russia, saying, "I, like a bee, gather honey from the garden to bring a grateful offering to Mother Russia" regarding his art.
#RussianCulture
📆 #OTD in 1856, Apollinarius Vasnetsov was born. Younger brother to the renowned painter Viktor Vasnetsov, Apollinarius carved out his own legacy as an artist, scientist, historian, and poet of Russian nature.
While he studied history and archaeology, his art focused on native landscapes and the old city of Moscow.
Growing up in the small village of Ryabovo in Vyatka province, Apollinarius was deeply influenced by his father, a priest with a passion for natural sciences and astronomy. His father’s love for the Motherland was instilled in his children, shaping Apollinarius’s own appreciation for the Russian North.
🎨 This deep connection is vividly portrayed in his masterpiece, “Motherland,” and in his monumental landscapes such as “Taiga in the Urals. Blue Mountain” and “Mountain Lake. Ural.” His epic vision culminates in the evocative “Elegy,” which won a silver medal at the Paris World Exhibition.
Apollinarius Vasnetsov's work continues to be celebrated by his admirers both in Russia and abroad.
#RussianArt #OutstandingRussians #RussianCulture #Vasnetsov
While he studied history and archaeology, his art focused on native landscapes and the old city of Moscow.
Growing up in the small village of Ryabovo in Vyatka province, Apollinarius was deeply influenced by his father, a priest with a passion for natural sciences and astronomy. His father’s love for the Motherland was instilled in his children, shaping Apollinarius’s own appreciation for the Russian North.
🎨 This deep connection is vividly portrayed in his masterpiece, “Motherland,” and in his monumental landscapes such as “Taiga in the Urals. Blue Mountain” and “Mountain Lake. Ural.” His epic vision culminates in the evocative “Elegy,” which won a silver medal at the Paris World Exhibition.
Apollinarius Vasnetsov's work continues to be celebrated by his admirers both in Russia and abroad.
#RussianArt #OutstandingRussians #RussianCulture #Vasnetsov
📚 While many Western readers might only recognize Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, and Chekhov as Russian literary giants, the treasure trove of Russian literature holds many more brilliant names.
One such luminary is Mikhail Zoshchenko, born 130 years ago on August 10, 1894
✍️ Zoshchenko was a key figure in Soviet satire, known for his sharp, humorous critiques of Soviet life in the 1920s and 1930s. His stories, often short and paradoxical, captivated readers with their simple yet powerful language.
His approachable style contributed to his immense popularity, with estimates of over 100 million copies of his stories sold.
Dive into the wit and charm of Zoshchenko with two of his short stories, translated into English by Anne Marie Jackson.
📖 READ THEM HERE
#RussianLiterature #RussianCulture
One such luminary is Mikhail Zoshchenko, born 130 years ago on August 10, 1894
✍️ Zoshchenko was a key figure in Soviet satire, known for his sharp, humorous critiques of Soviet life in the 1920s and 1930s. His stories, often short and paradoxical, captivated readers with their simple yet powerful language.
His approachable style contributed to his immense popularity, with estimates of over 100 million copies of his stories sold.
Dive into the wit and charm of Zoshchenko with two of his short stories, translated into English by Anne Marie Jackson.
📖 READ THEM HERE
#RussianLiterature #RussianCulture
📆 #OTD, in 1900, the influential Russian thinker Vladimir Solovyov passed away.
✍️ Vladimir Sergeyevich Solovyov (January 28, 1853 - August 13, 1900) was a renowned religious thinker, mystic, poet, essayist, literary critic, and teacher.
🌟 He was also an honourary academician of the Imperial Academy of Sciences in fine literature.
Born in Moscow to the famous historian S.M.Solovyov, Vladimir was deeply influenced by his father's dedication and scholarly rigor.
👉 Solovyov played a pivotal role in the early 20th-century Russian spiritual revival and is celebrated as a key figure in Russian idealism. His work and ideas significantly shaped Russian philosophy and inspired countless intellectuals of his time. He is also credited with founding the movement of Christian philosophy.
#RussianLiterature #RussianCulture #OutstandingRussians
✍️ Vladimir Sergeyevich Solovyov (January 28, 1853 - August 13, 1900) was a renowned religious thinker, mystic, poet, essayist, literary critic, and teacher.
🌟 He was also an honourary academician of the Imperial Academy of Sciences in fine literature.
Born in Moscow to the famous historian S.M.Solovyov, Vladimir was deeply influenced by his father's dedication and scholarly rigor.
👉 Solovyov played a pivotal role in the early 20th-century Russian spiritual revival and is celebrated as a key figure in Russian idealism. His work and ideas significantly shaped Russian philosophy and inspired countless intellectuals of his time. He is also credited with founding the movement of Christian philosophy.
#RussianLiterature #RussianCulture #OutstandingRussians
📆 Today would have been the 82nd birthday of the legendary Muslim Magomayev, the celebrated Soviet, Azerbaijani, and Russian singer.
Often hailed as the “Soviet Frank Sinatra,” Magomayev earned iconic status in the USSR and beyond with his incredible vocal talent and magnetic charisma. He took immense pride in both his native Azerbaijan and Russia, famously saying that Russia was his mother, Azerbaijan his father, and that he embodied a bit of each.
🎶 Magomayev's remarkable career was highlighted by numerous accolades, including a Gold Disc at the International Festival of Recording and Music Publications (MIDEM) in Cannes, in recognition of over 4.5 million album sales.
🎧 Listen to some of his timeless musical pieces and experience the voice and spirit of a true legend that continues to inspire.
#RussianCulture #OutstandingRussians
Often hailed as the “Soviet Frank Sinatra,” Magomayev earned iconic status in the USSR and beyond with his incredible vocal talent and magnetic charisma. He took immense pride in both his native Azerbaijan and Russia, famously saying that Russia was his mother, Azerbaijan his father, and that he embodied a bit of each.
🎶 Magomayev's remarkable career was highlighted by numerous accolades, including a Gold Disc at the International Festival of Recording and Music Publications (MIDEM) in Cannes, in recognition of over 4.5 million album sales.
🎧 Listen to some of his timeless musical pieces and experience the voice and spirit of a true legend that continues to inspire.
#RussianCulture #OutstandingRussians
📆 117 years ago, on 19 August 1907, the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood in St. Petersburg was consecrated.
It is often confused with St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow though the latter is 3 centuries older.
The Church in St.Petersburg was built on the site, where Russian Emperor Alexander II was fatally wounded. As the story goes, a terrorist threw a bomb under Alexander II’s royal carriage moving on the embankment of current Griboyedov Canal.
🕊 Shaken but unhurt, the Emperor got out and thanked God for saving him, whereupon a second conspirator threw another bomb directly at his feet.
☦️ The church took 24 years to build. The luxurious mosaics cover around 7,065 square meters, making it one of the largest mosaic exhibitions in Europe.
The work was carried out by the finest artists in the Russian Empire: Viktor Vasnetsov, Mikhail Nesterov, Vasily Belyaev, and many others (30 in total).
#RussianCulture #RussianHistory
It is often confused with St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow though the latter is 3 centuries older.
The Church in St.Petersburg was built on the site, where Russian Emperor Alexander II was fatally wounded. As the story goes, a terrorist threw a bomb under Alexander II’s royal carriage moving on the embankment of current Griboyedov Canal.
🕊 Shaken but unhurt, the Emperor got out and thanked God for saving him, whereupon a second conspirator threw another bomb directly at his feet.
☦️ The church took 24 years to build. The luxurious mosaics cover around 7,065 square meters, making it one of the largest mosaic exhibitions in Europe.
The work was carried out by the finest artists in the Russian Empire: Viktor Vasnetsov, Mikhail Nesterov, Vasily Belyaev, and many others (30 in total).
#RussianCulture #RussianHistory
🎶 On 20 August 1882, “The Year 1812” overture by P.Tchaikovsky, commemorating Russia’s defeat of Napoleon, was debuted in Moscow under a tent near the then-unfinished Cathedral of Christ the Saviour.
The piece belongs to a specific kind of musical works, to be performed at open-air venues or in large halls. It best known for its climactic volley of cannon fire, ringing chimes and a brass fanfare finale. P.Tchaikovsky noted in the manuscript score that “the bells should be large, and all of the same pitch; they should be struck in the manner of celebratory ringing”, and that the cannon should be “the instrument used in theatres to depict a cannon shot”.
🎻 Ever since its premiere, the overture has been among the best-known and most frequently performed of P.Tchaikovsky's works along with his “The Nutcracker” (1892), “The Sleeping Beauty” (1889-1890) and “Swan Lake” (1875-1876).
🎧 Dive into this masterpiece and experience its grandeur for yourself!
#RussianCulture #Tchaikovsky #OutstandingRussians
The piece belongs to a specific kind of musical works, to be performed at open-air venues or in large halls. It best known for its climactic volley of cannon fire, ringing chimes and a brass fanfare finale. P.Tchaikovsky noted in the manuscript score that “the bells should be large, and all of the same pitch; they should be struck in the manner of celebratory ringing”, and that the cannon should be “the instrument used in theatres to depict a cannon shot”.
🎻 Ever since its premiere, the overture has been among the best-known and most frequently performed of P.Tchaikovsky's works along with his “The Nutcracker” (1892), “The Sleeping Beauty” (1889-1890) and “Swan Lake” (1875-1876).
🎧 Dive into this masterpiece and experience its grandeur for yourself!
#RussianCulture #Tchaikovsky #OutstandingRussians
🎬 Happy Russian Cinema Day!
Today, we celebrate the rich legacy of Russian cinema, tracing back to the nationalization of the film industry in Soviet Russia in 1919. It wasn't until 1980 that August 27 was officially recognized as Cinema Day.
👉 Here are some fascinating facts about Russian and Soviet film history:
📺 First Russian Film: The first Russian movie, Stenka Razin (1908), ran for just 6 minutes and 8 seconds. It was inspired by the play Ponizovaya Volnitsa by Vasily Goncharov.
📺 First Colour Film: The Battleship Potemkin (1925), directed by the legendary Sergey Eisenstein, was Russia's first colour film. Eisenstein even hand-painted the red flag seen in the film!
🏆 Academy Award Winners: Several Soviet and Russian films have won Academy Awards, including:
✨ Rout of the German Troops near Moscow (1942)
✨ War and Peace (1968)
✨ Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears (1980)
✨ Burnt by the Sun (1994)
📺 Costliest Film: War and Peace (1968), directed by Sergei Bondarchuk, is one of the most expensive films in Russian and the world cinema history, costing 8.29 million Soviet rubles – about $9.21 million in 1967. It's renowned as the best adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's epic, set against the Napoleonic Wars.
#RussianCulture #RussianCinema
Today, we celebrate the rich legacy of Russian cinema, tracing back to the nationalization of the film industry in Soviet Russia in 1919. It wasn't until 1980 that August 27 was officially recognized as Cinema Day.
👉 Here are some fascinating facts about Russian and Soviet film history:
📺 First Russian Film: The first Russian movie, Stenka Razin (1908), ran for just 6 minutes and 8 seconds. It was inspired by the play Ponizovaya Volnitsa by Vasily Goncharov.
📺 First Colour Film: The Battleship Potemkin (1925), directed by the legendary Sergey Eisenstein, was Russia's first colour film. Eisenstein even hand-painted the red flag seen in the film!
🏆 Academy Award Winners: Several Soviet and Russian films have won Academy Awards, including:
✨ Rout of the German Troops near Moscow (1942)
✨ War and Peace (1968)
✨ Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears (1980)
✨ Burnt by the Sun (1994)
📺 Costliest Film: War and Peace (1968), directed by Sergei Bondarchuk, is one of the most expensive films in Russian and the world cinema history, costing 8.29 million Soviet rubles – about $9.21 million in 1967. It's renowned as the best adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's epic, set against the Napoleonic Wars.
#RussianCulture #RussianCinema
📆 545 years ago, on 29 August 1479, the Assumption (Dormition) Cathedral in Moscow was consecrated, a place of crucial importance for Russian identity.
The origins of the Cathedral are closely connected with the rise of Moscow Principality of Russia.
☦️ In 1326, the leading Russian church prelate, Metropolitan Peter of Vladimir, made the Moscow Kremlin his de facto residence. Currently, Great Prince Ivan Kalita launched the construction of the cathedral dedicated to the Feast of the Dormition, which symbolized the continuity with the great Dormition Cathedral in the town of Vladimir. The latter started to lose its political significance.
✍️ The present-day cathedral was constructed in 1479 by decree of Great Prince of Russia Ivan III, who consolidated all Russian principalities under the power of Moscow. A renowned architect Aristotele Fioravanti of Bologna was invited to Russia to design and to build it.
🇷🇺 For 6 centuries the Cathedral was national and religious centre of Russia. It is known as the place of coronation of Russian rulers (even after the capital was relocated to St.Petersburg) including the last Russian Emperor Nicholas II and the investiture of the leaders of Russian Orthodox Church.
#RussianCulture #RussianHistory
The origins of the Cathedral are closely connected with the rise of Moscow Principality of Russia.
☦️ In 1326, the leading Russian church prelate, Metropolitan Peter of Vladimir, made the Moscow Kremlin his de facto residence. Currently, Great Prince Ivan Kalita launched the construction of the cathedral dedicated to the Feast of the Dormition, which symbolized the continuity with the great Dormition Cathedral in the town of Vladimir. The latter started to lose its political significance.
✍️ The present-day cathedral was constructed in 1479 by decree of Great Prince of Russia Ivan III, who consolidated all Russian principalities under the power of Moscow. A renowned architect Aristotele Fioravanti of Bologna was invited to Russia to design and to build it.
🇷🇺 For 6 centuries the Cathedral was national and religious centre of Russia. It is known as the place of coronation of Russian rulers (even after the capital was relocated to St.Petersburg) including the last Russian Emperor Nicholas II and the investiture of the leaders of Russian Orthodox Church.
#RussianCulture #RussianHistory
🎨 Today marks 184 years since the birth of Pavel Bryullov, a Russian landscape painter and architect, nephew of another renowned Russian artist Karl Bryullov.
He was known as an all-round man, having originally studied physics and mathematics at St.Petersburg State University. Among fellow painters, P.Bryullov was thought to have a talent for sciences, while mathematicians considered him good at music.
🖌 Check out a set of Pavel Bryullov’s selected paintings.
#RussianCulture #OutstandingRussians
He was known as an all-round man, having originally studied physics and mathematics at St.Petersburg State University. Among fellow painters, P.Bryullov was thought to have a talent for sciences, while mathematicians considered him good at music.
🖌 Check out a set of Pavel Bryullov’s selected paintings.
#RussianCulture #OutstandingRussians