Russian Empire Naturalism
Maria Konstantinovna Bashkirtseva (Russian: Мария Константиновна Башки́рцева) was a Russian artist of the second half of the 19th century. She is known as a master of domestic and portrait genres. Most of Bashkirtseva's paintings are in a realistic style.
In her short 25-year life Maria Bashkirtseva managed to gain recognition - her works were regularly exhibited in the Paris salons and received awards. But the artist became widely known after her death through the publication of her diaries. The famous "Diary" by Bashkirtseva immediately became a European bestseller. At the beginning of the XXI century on the basis of the original manuscripts of the author found in the National Library of France the complete 16-volume version of the diary was issued.
Much of the artist's work was lost during World War II. The few surviving masterpieces are now kept in museums in Ukraine, Russia, France and the USA.
Mikhail Konstantinovich Clodt (Russian: Михаил Константинович Клодт) was a Russian landscape painter of German origin in the second half of the 19th century. He was one of the first to introduce genre motifs into the landscape genre.
Mikhail Clodt is known for his unique painting style. His works are characterized by serenity, rigorous composition, detailed drawing of the smallest objects. The presence of human figures on canvas animates and elevates the nature.
Clodt actively worked in the Board of the Association of Traveling Exhibitions, whose goal was to acquaint residents of the province with academic painting. The works of Mikhail Clodt are among the masterpieces of world art and were repeatedly presented to the public at international exhibitions organized in European capitals.
