Vasily Dmitrievich Polenov
(1844-1927)

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Vasily Polenov was a Russian landscape painter of the Peredvizhniki movement of realist artists. Polenov was introduced to art at a young age by his mother an amateur painter and supporter of the fine arts. Polenov received a well-rounded education, studying at both St. Petersburg University and at the Academy of Arts. In 1871, Polenov completed his law degree and was awarded a gold medal for one of his paintings.

Eventually, Polenov decided to pursue a career as an artist rather than law. Polenov served in the Russo-Turkish War from 1877-1878 as an artist, documenting wartime and historical events. During this time Polenov was able to spend much of his time developing painting techniques and themes.

After the war, Polenov became a pensioner of the Academy of Arts, which allowed him the opportunity to travel around Europe painting portraits and landscapes. Polenov was fond of landscape painting and gravitated to the Barbizon school painters in France.

By the late 1870s, Polenov established himself as one of the best landscape painters in Russia. Polenov showed his paintings at the Itinerants’ Society of Traveling Exhibitions, bringing ‘plein air’ painting onto the national art scene.

During the 1880s, Polenov continued to travel, depicting the landscapes of Greece and the Middle East. Polenov’s reputation grew and in 1882, he was invited to teach at the Moscow School of Painting. Many of Polenov’s students rose to stardom, including Isaac Levitan, Constantin Korovin, A. Arkhipov. In addition to landscapes, Polenov made several religious paintings and theatre sets. Polenov is also known for designing the Savya Mamontov mansion in Abramtsevo. Polenov’s mansion in Borok now stands as a national art museum. The village of Borok is now referred to as Polenovo in his memory.

Polenov greatly impacted generations of painters in Russia. Do you think you own a painting by this Russian master? Contact us. We are the experts on Vasily Polenov.