Karl Briullov and Taras Shevchenko

Karl Briullov was a known mentor and comrade of Taras Shevchenko.  While studying at the St. Petersburg academy of fine arts Taras studied under Briullov for quite a few years. In fact Briullov donated his portrait of Vasily Zhukovsky, a Russian poet, to a lottery to buy Shevchenko’s freedom from serfdom in 1838.  Shevchenko learned a great deal from his mentor and this can be seen in similarities between the two’s artistic styles.  Both painters moved through different phases in art in their careers.  Briullov is regarded as a key figure in the transition from neoclassicism to romanticism in Russia.  While Shevchenko started painting in the similar academism style before portraying more realist scenes of poverty and landscapes in Ukraine in his later years. 

 The two paintings in this post, Gipsy Fortune Teller (1841) by Shevchenko and An Interrupted Date (circa 1825) by Briullov show both the similarities and differences in the two artist’s styles.  Notice the hands meeting at the center of the painting, this being a very typical Briullov attribute making its way into Shevchenko’s works.   Also, the symmetry seen in the painting shows an academistic trait between the two works.  However, the Shevchenko works has a realist touch with both people wearing simple clothes against a light simplistic background.  Briullov’s work on the other hand has well-dressed individuals and a darker background accentuating the details other than the people.  Shevchenko according to literature stepped away from the academism style in around 1840 and this painting seems to be a very fitting example of the transition, while still showing resemblances to his mentor’s works. 

Gipsy Fortune Teller Taras Shevchenko (1841)

   An Interrupted Date Karl Briullov (circa 1825)

Resources:
[1] http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/82592/Karl-Pavlovich-Bryullov

[2] http://www.ukemonde.com/shevchenko/