Bromley Art Society Bringing Artists Together since 1947

Memories of the ‘From Russia’ exhibition at the Royal Academy will linger for many  months to come. It goes without saying that the quite extraordinary array of French  Impressionist art, mainly from the collections of two wealthy aristocrats – Sergei  Ivanovich Shchukin and Mikhail Morozov – was an outstanding exhibition in itself.  However, for me, the collection of Russian art from 1870 onwards was equally out- standing and a complete revelation. Here were great painters, many of whom I had  never before encountered, whose influences ranged from realism through to  impressionism, folk art, symbolism, religion, colour and abstraction.  

Of particular interest was the number of women artists who emerged in the early  years of the 20th century. Below I have listed of some of the less well-known  painters for whom I shall certainly be on the lookout in the future. 

Isaac Levitan - a landscape artist whose paintings capture the atmosphere of the  Russian countryside, particularly the weather. 

Konstantin Korovin - who loved Paris and whose painting of this title clearly demon- strates French impressionist influence. 

Philipp Malyavin  - who came from a peasant background and sought, like Russian  composers of that period, to define the national character through his art. ‘Peasant  Woman Dancing’ is a symphony in red. 

Mikhail Vrubel – a theatrical designer and sculptor as well as symbolist painter.  ‘Six-winged Seraph’ was magic. Can’t wait to see more of his work. 

Natalia Goncharova studied with Korovin but developed a style all her own  combining naivety with cubism. 

Kusma Petrov-Vodkin also worked in the theatre and as a graphic artist. His  ‘Virgin of Tender Mercy’, painted during World War 1, is one of the most moving  religious paintings I have encountered. 

Nathan Altman.- Such magnificent portraits! such magnificent colour! 

Liubov Popova, Alexandra Exter, Nadezhda Udaltsova and Olga Rozanova.  Women who embraced cubism in their futurist styles and who all demonstrated  the Russian passion for colour. 

My love of Russian music now extends to a love of Russian art! 

Christine Richards