In the book of births and baptisms Theodosia Armenian church in 1817 was recorded on the birth of "Hovhannes, son of George Aivazyan." Then the inhabitants of the Crimean city could not even imagine what kind of role in the history of the native populations of the family play a kid poor merchant. Ancestors Aivazyan in the XVIII century, fled from Western Armenia to Poland to escape the genocide unleashed by the Turks, and in the beginning of the XIX century, the father of the future artist Konstantin (Gevorg) moved to the Crimea. He successfully engaged in trade, but the plague that swept Theodosius in 1812, bankrupted him. To fight poverty, the head of the family was forced to earn a pittance at the market in the post chief.
In the childhood of poverty Hovhannes small, nothing stands out among its surrounding other boys of different races. Slap and smyshlёny, it differed only in that the passion for drawing. Using coal samovar, future painter to create wonderful pictures on the walls bleached Armenian suburb. It was good publicity - the talent of young talent was spotted. Under his wing development of artistic skills Aivazyan Jr. took the local mayor AI Treasurers, who later became governor of Tauris. Thanks to the efforts of well-educated and highly cultured man, Hovhannes studied first at the Simferopol gymnasium (1830), and less than three years later became a student at the Academy of Arts in Peterburge.Schaste smiled the young draftsman - a teacher of fine arts in the classroom, where he studied, was famous artist, MN Vorobiev, famous wonderful landscapes, architectural views of Moscow and St. Petersburg. His work combines the accuracy of a variety of perspectives and lighting effects.Romanticism and addicted to "the light on the canvas," made a deep impression on the young Aivazyan. A huge number of marinas, written by him, striking a terrific ability to transfer game sveta.V years of study at the Academy of Hovhannes acquainted with Karl Briullov and talented artist F. Tanner owning receptions image of water. And of course, he is born on the shore of the Black Sea Ayvazov with all his characteristic passion starts to get involved depiction of the mighty sea elements. On the academic exhibition he presented five paintings, which were not only highly appreciated by specialists, but also aroused the admiration of the public. About the young painter in newspapers, his work has been discussed in the salons, art lovers have spared no money to buy these masterpieces. In 1837, two new works ("Calm on the Gulf of Finland" and "The Great Roads at Kronstadt") Hovhannes received a gold medal and the title of the artist. The creative potential of the new talented draftsman struck his contemporaries, among his admirers were Pushkin, Zhukovsky, Krylov, Glinka. Advances Aivazyan were striking, and in 1838 was sent to the seascapes two years in the Crimea for self raboty.Bezuslovno, native place, "where the gentle slumbers myrtle and cypress dark, sweet and noisy midday wave", gave the painter sea inspiration. He enthusiastically and fruitfully, then wrote more from nature views of Yalta, Gurzuf, Kerch, Sevastopol, Theodosia. During these two years of tireless work, the artist created wonderful paintings reflecting his selfless love of the sea and the beautiful Crimean nature.In 1839, General NN Raevskii seascape offered to participate in military operations off the coast of the Black Sea Fleet of the Caucasus. Three times went to the swimming Ayvazov, it fascinated romance sea battles, victories inspired compatriots. Thus was born the wonderful canvas, depicting battle scenes: the foaming waves surrounded spray and sea foam oppose military court, and the elements themselves are fighting with each other - water and air are in a desperate struggle. The paintings are striking dynamism, because at any point of the space depicted nothing is at rest. And the most amazing seascape masterpieces in that each of them is necessarily present light, whether ray peeps from behind the clouds, or the disk of the sun is eclipsed by clouds ... "Apostle of Light" painter called admirers of his work. Battle-painting Aivazyan marked the beginning of his friendship with Mikhail Lazarev, VA Kornilov and P. Nakhimov, future glorification admiralami.V 1840 Ivan Aivazovsky (Russified version of this began to sign his paintings successful artist) goes to Italy, among other boarders Academy "for further improvements in the arts. "Already an established master, absorbed the best traditions of Russian art, he studied classic works of painters of European countries.Ivan Konstantinovich travels a lot, and no matter where he was, he was lucky and unprecedented success. Having spent four years traveling abroad, sociable, witty and beautiful artist has achieved recognition and fame thanks to his talent and unprecedented performance. He could have a few hours to create a large-scale canvas and immediately take up the new. Who lived at that time in Italy, NV Gogol, artist AA Ivanov, author of paintings "The Appearance of Christ to the people," "Apollo, Hyacinth and Cypress", the famous English marine painter George. Turner - all of these outstanding people admired the genius Ayvazovskogo.Marinista awarded the Gold Medal of the French Academy, and on his return to Russia in 1844, he was awarded the title of academician and added to the Naval Staff. But the bustling life of Petersburg tired miss Feodosia artist. "Just poveet spring, I am drawn to the Crimea" - he wrote. And next year, leaving the capital, he moved to his hometown, where buying a piece of land and build a house with a large workshop. Learn the culture of various countries in the world was in his nature, and numerous trips to Turkey, Greece, Asia Minor, Egypt, Italy, and even in America is doing his inner world bogache.V 1846 Aivazovsky built himself in Feodosia new spacious studio, where he continued to create. From nature, he no longer wrote most of his images of the sea - a product of the imagination of the artist.
This was not a whim of genius, and it was a principled position, "Painter, just copy nature, becomes her slave, bound hand and foot. Movement of live elements to subtly brush "- he wrote. Creating a grandiose image of raging water element, seascapes guided his phenomenal memory, depicting the colors and shades observed them "foaming rollers" and the play of light on the "ferocious marine abyss." Ivan Konstantinovich had many friends, and when in 1846 he celebrated a decade of his artistic career, in Feodosia welcomed his whole squadron under the command of Kornilova.Buduchi already famous artist and a wealthy man (picture unsurpassed master bought in large quantities), Aivazovsky was interested in history and took part in archaeological excavations. Not far from them were found Feodosia gold products of IV century BC, who are now in a closed storage at the Hermitage. In addition, he has organized numerous exhibitions in different cities and countries (over 120 times), which exhibited and sold their work. Money raised for the web, spending them not so much for the family as the beautification of Feodosia, where he was honored as the "father of the city." After the opening of the gallery in 1871 on his own project, and at his own expense, he builds a building of the Archaeological Museum, is becoming one of the organizers of the first public library in the city.
Through his mediation designed and erected the building of a concert hall, cottages known publicist AS Suvorina, Commercial Seaport and held railroad, on which the passenger arrives in Feodosia along the scenic waterfront. Loving my hometown with all my heart, Aivazovsky spent there most of his life. "My address is: always in Feodosia" - a phrase contained in one of his letters P. Tretyakovu.Predstavlennye in art galleries in Moscow, St. Petersburg, the cities of Ukraine, Armenia, Georgia, Latvia, Germany, Italy, France, USA and other countries paintings by Aivazovsky invariably cause delight connoisseurs of art. The most famous of them are "The Battle" (1848) and "Among the waves" that are in the National Gallery named IK Aivazovsky (Feodosia), "Rainbow" (1873) and "Black Sea" (1881), exhibited in the Tretyakov Gallery, "The Ninth Wave" (1850), exhibited in the Russian Museum (St. Petersburg). During his creative life artist painted about 6000 paintings, many of which are found in private collections.
At the end of his life he was happy, he did not even have to participate in exhibitions since earned his work the artist could spend money not only for the needs of his family, but on patronage. He died in his beloved home in 1900 and was buried near the ancient Armenian hramom.U main facade of the house of the artist, which adjoins established his gallery, adorned bronze monument, the inscription on its pedestal reads: "Theodosius - Aivazovsky". This grateful descendants expressed his admiration of genius talent seascape and respect to the first honorary citizen of the city, bequeathed his collection of paintings of them. The collection of paintings by Aivazovsky treasured, and in times of war evacuated. In 1914, because of the threat of air attacks by the sea picture was taken in Simferopol, and during World War II would save them in Yerevan. Since 2001, Feodosia gallery received national status and continues to attract thousands posetiteley.Zhizn Aivazovsky, full of successes, inspired work and the joy of creation of beauty, can be considered the epitome of the "American Dream" in the Russian manner, because of the poor child, he managed to become a global magnitude, a respected and wealthy man and a generous patron. And while saying that he ventured to repeat himself in his paintings, to surpass the genius in the art of "water and light writing" could not be anyone.
