Portrait of Alexey Bogolubov

myminifactory

Alexey Petrovich Bogolyubov, a renowned Russian landscape painter, was born on March 16, 1824, in the Pomeranie village of Novgorod Gubernia. His father, Pyotr Gavriilovich Bogolyubov, was a retired colonel who greatly influenced his son's artistic pursuits. Bogolyubov's maternal grandfather, Alexander Radishchev, was a celebrated philosopher and social critic whose ideas had a lasting impact on the young painter. Bogolyubov graduated from military school in 1841 and served in the Russian Navy, traveling to various countries with the fleet. In 1849, he enrolled at the Saint Petersburg Academy of Arts, where he studied under Maxim Vorobiev and was influenced by Ivan Ayvazovsky's work. Bogolyubov excelled academically, graduating in 1853 with a major Gold medal. Following his graduation, Bogolyubov retired from military service and became an artist at the Navy headquarters. He traveled extensively throughout Europe from 1854 to 1860, working prolifically and meeting prominent artists along the way. In Rome, he befriended Alexander Ivanov, who encouraged him to focus on drawing. In Düsseldorf, Bogolyubov studied under Andreas Achenbach, while in Paris, he admired the Barbizon School's artists. Bogolyubov's friendships with Camille Corot and Charles-François Daubigny were particularly significant, as they collaborated on several projects and exchanged ideas about art. He also painted frescoes in the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, showcasing his exceptional talent. In 1860, Bogolyubov returned to Russia and exhibited his work at the Academy, earning the title of professor. For a time, he taught at the Academy, sharing his knowledge with aspiring artists. In the 1860s, he traveled along the Volga River, developing a more realistic style that shed its romantic elements. Bogolyubov's association with The Wanderers art movement began in 1870, and he participated in all their exhibitions. He became a member of their board and was elected to the Imperial Academy of Arts in 1871. However, Bogolyubov had reservations about the movement's social ideas and left the Academy in solidarity with his fellow Itinerants in 1873. In Rome, Bogolyubov attempted to establish an alternative Russian Academy of Arts, but ultimately returned to Paris due to his heart condition. His home became a gathering place for artists, writers, and intellectuals, including Ivan Turgenev, Ilya Repin, Vasily Polenov, Mark Antokolski, and Vasili Vereshchagin. In 1885, Bogolyubov founded the Radischev Art Museum in Saratov, which opened seven years before the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow and fifteen years before the Russian Museum in Saint Petersburg. The museum's naming after his grandfather Alexander Radishchev was a bold statement against the authorities, and Bogolyubov had to fight for permission. Bogolyubov passed away on February 3, 1896, leaving behind a significant legacy. He bequeathed his wealth and capital (approximately $6 million) to the museum and its painting school, which was established after his death. The school attracted notable modernist painters like Victor Borisov-Musatov and Pavel Kuznetsov.