Skorodumov Gavril Ivanovich (1755-1792)

GI Skorodumov enjoyed fame among his contemporaries as a virtuoso printmaker and master of miniature portraits. His name is associated with the appearance in Russia colored prints, made in a difficult technique dotted line, which, however, later had a wide circulation.

Skorodumov came from a family of artists. Vocational education he received at the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts, where he was identified by his father in 1764 he studied art of engraving under the direction of J. Kolpakov and GF Srebrenica.

At the time of release of ACh Skorodumov brilliantly mastered the technique of copperplate engravings on copper, as evidenced by his engraving "Cain" (1771) with pictures of A. Losenko and "Lot and his daughters" (1772) with pictures L.-ZH.-F. Lagrene.

Award for his work large gold medal, which gave them the right to a pensioner's trip Skorodumov goes to England. Unconventional residence of pensioners, which at that time was the United Kingdom, was not chosen by chance. In London, he lived by F. Bartolozzi, the celebrated master of the whole of Europe had been fashionable color prints dotted line. Becoming his disciple, Skorodumov quickly mastered the new technique.

In London, he works primarily with original paintings by German artist A. Kaufman. Her graceful, often inscribed in a circle of track or grustyaschih dancing female figures in classical garb is the best meet the tastes of the time. The first among the Russian engravers Skorodumov started printing them with colored prints, each time achieving a surprisingly harmonious combination of muted pastel tones.

During his stay abroad, the artist executed accurately dated to about 20 prints a dotted line and a large copperplate print "Susanna and the Elders" of the original K. van Loo. Russian artist soon became quite famous in London. Traders prints did not avoid his orders. Notable compatriots and foreigners are often looked at his shop. So did and then journeyed to Europe with children ER Dashkova. Her portrait Skorodumov depicted in the prints.

Later, he went into the album, badged Skorodumov in 1779 Catherine II. Album accounted for more than 30 stunning prints of the artist, printed in reddish-brown tones. Russian empress, who knew a lot about art, and specifically collects prints, could not help but appreciate the skill Skorodumova. In 1782, she invited the artist to return home in order to take the place of "the engraver's office" and caretaker of prints at the Hermitage with very significant for those years of monetary compensation - 1,200 rubles per year. Skorodumov agreed.

However, such a successful beginning of his relationship with the Empress in the future did not exist. Although in 1785 the Academy of Arts chooses Skorodumova academic engraving to teaching, he was not involved and had no students. Skorodumov became completely dependent on his patron saint, which is weighed on the freedom-loving artist.

Despite this, he continued to work hard: a large piece of engraved "Death Potemkin" (drawing by M. Ivanov painting F. Casanova), conceived nagravirovat genre series with the views of the Neva 9 sheets, painted portraits in oil, watercolor, pastel drawing and a pen. Especially good thumbnails VI Maikova, AI Musin-Pushkin and others - are strict, expressive, deep in characteristics. True masterpieces can be considered "Portrait of Father" (I. Skorodumova) and two self-portraits. One of them - an intimate, sharp-psychological, cartoon pen, the other - a representative in height, made in a difficult technique - watercolor and gouache podtsvechennoy whitewash, touched ink. They seem to show two different Skorodumova: passionless and kind of how the artist was in public, and gall, deep suffering, how he felt in reality. In Russia, his talent was not appreciated. Artistic talent is slowly fading into oblivion and poverty. He died of cholera.