| Biography of old oil painting master Ivan Constantinovich Aivazovsky what we can copy |
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Ivan Constantinovich
Aivazovsky
Russian Academic Classical artist
born 1817 - died 1900
At the turn of the 19th century, the
Armenian merchant Konstantin (Gevork)
Aivazovsky moved to Theodosia from Poland.
The Armenian church of the city recorded on
July 17, 1817, the birth of "Hovhannes, son
of Gevork Ayvazian" in the register of
births and baptisms. His father operated a
small store in Theodosia and his mother was
employed in the lace and embroidery
industry. Borth worked diligently in order
to support their five children. |
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The Governor of Theodosia
recognized the talent of young Hovhannes and
helped him enter high school in Simferopol
and in 1833 St. Petersburg Academy of Art
where Ivan Constantinovich Aivazovsky studied under M. Vorobyov, a
renowned Russian landscape painter and the
French marine painter F. Tanner, and where
Ivan Constantinovich Aivazovsky graduated with honours at 20 years of
age. Ivan Constantinovich Aivazovsky was sent to study in Italy and
returned a recognised master. Delacroix
spoke of him with great respect and Turner
described him as a genius. Always true to
his motto, "For me, to live means to work,"
Aivazovski created around 6,000 paintings.
His house in his native town was turned into
a museum dedicated to his memory even during
his lifetime. |
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One of the greatest seascape painters of his
time, Aivazovsky conveyed the movement of
the waves, the transparent water, the
dialogue between sea and sky with with
virtuoso skill and tangible verisimilitude.
The artist also often turned to themes from
Armenian and Russian history. The
originality of Aivazovsky's work is largely
determined by his national character and
temperament. Armenian culture has an ancient
tradition of the creative value of light,
and the knowledge of light was one of the
most important elements in his art, giving
the artist's canvases a dreamy and emotional
feel. |
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Following the massacres of the Armenians in
Turkey, many refugees came to Theodosia,
where Aivazovsky provided shelter and food,
and helped families relocate. So incensed
was Ivan Constantinovich Aivazovsky with the treatment of the Armenians
in Turkey that Ivan Constantinovich
Aivazovsky painted a series of
canvases condemning the massacres, which
were exhibted in Moscow. Ivan
Constantinovich Aivazovsky also renounced
the medals which has been presented to him
by the Sultan. His own emotional involvement
with the massacres produced the paintings,
The Armenian Massacres of Trevizond,
Shiploaded Armenians, and Armenians Thrown
into the Sea Alive. |
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In a letter
addressed to Catholicos Khrimian in
Etchmiadzin, Aivazovsky wrote: "I am deeply
distressed to hear of the appalling,
unprecendented massacre of the helpless
Armenians".
In accordance with his wishes, Aivazovsky
was buried in the courtyard of the St.
Sarkis Armenian Church in Theodosia. The
inscription on his tombstone, in Armenian
and Russian reads: "He was born a mortal,
left an immortal legacy". |
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