Karl Bryullov

  Karl Pavlovich Bryullov (1799-1852) was regarded as a key figure in transition from the Russian neoclassicism to romanticism. Painter, aquarellist and graphic artist, master of historical painting, portratist, landscape and genre painter he was a son of Academic in ornamental sculpture P.L.Bryullov.

      From 1809-1822 he was a student at the Academy of Arts. His teachers were A.I.Ivanov, A.Ye.Yegorov, V.K.Shebuyev. From 1822 until 1834 as a pensioner from the Society for the Encouragement of Artists he lived and worked in Italy, where he painted the famous canvas "The Last Day of Pompeii" (1830-1833, The State Russian Museum, St.Petersburg), which won the Grand Prix in Paris. At the same time a series of portraits was made, including the painting "Lady on Horseback" (1832), which brought him great fame. 

       In 1835 he set out on a journey round Greece and Turkey, during which he drew a series of graphic works. In the sanme year he returned to Russia, and until 1836 he lived in Moscow, where he became acquainted with A.S.Pushkin. He then moved to St.Petersburg. Between 1836-1849 he worked as a teacher at the Academy of Arts. He painted several portraits of artists, including N.V.Kukolnik (1836), I.P.Vitali (1837) and I.A.Krylov (1839). He was on friendly terms with M.I.Glinka and N.V.Kukolnik.

      From 1843-1847 he painted murals for the Kazansky and Issakiyevsky Cathedrals in St.Petersburg (they were later completed by P.V.Basin). Due to illness he left for the Island of Madeira in 1849. During his stay on the island he painted many water colour portraits of his friends and acquaintances ("Riders. Portrait of E.I.Mussard and E.Mussard", 1849). From 1850 he lived in Italy. He was a member of the Milan and Parma Academies and the Academy of St Lucas in Rome.

Karl Bryullov's Techniques:

      Bryullov’s work was the height of late Russian romanticism. When feelings of harmonious integrity and world beauty give way to tragedy and conflict in life, with interest in life's passions, unusual themes and situations. Bryullov combined the dramatic tension of the subject with the romantic effect of light and sculptural plasticity in the figures, which are classically perfect.

     His paintings underwent a considerable evolution, typical of the romantic era, from the joyful acceptance of life in his early canvases ("The Rider", 1832) to the complicated psychology in his later work ("Self-Portrait", 1848), anticipating the achievements late 19th century artists, such as I.E.Repin ("Portrait of M.P.Mussorgsky", 1881). Bryullov influenced many great Russian artists, among whom were many his successors and imitators.

Bryullov's outstanding works

The Rider 1832

The Last Day of Pompeii 1830-1833

Italian Noon 1827

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