Shmelkov Peter M. (1819-1890)

Shmelkov, Peter M. (1819-1890), Russian artist, genre and satirical graphics, a representative of Romanticism. He was born in Orenburg, 12 (24) June 1819 in the family of serfs. When his family settled in the county Kovrov Vladimir province, the boy moved to Moscow, enrolling in training to the iconographer. Later (1842-1847) studied at the newly established School of Painting and Sculpture (later the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture.) In 1843, his master, Count V.N.Zubov, gave him his freedom. For a long time, made a living as a teacher of drawing in the Cadet Corps.

Having experienced a great impact P.A.Fedotova , imitated him in his early watercolors (Fees to the theater in 1850, little market, the 1850s, both work at the Tretyakov Gallery). The compositions of the master gained considerable popularity among artists and journalists, and in the 1850s, his friend, the novelist A.M.Golitsynsky, even wrote a series of stories on the plot outline drawings Shmelkova (Laughter and Tears book, published in 1859, with its Lithography). He contributed to magazines as "Entertainment" and "The Spectator" (1861-1878), illustrated book of factory life Golitsyn Essays (1861). Was not only a cartoonist. Free bar, dynamic light and shadow effects, coupled with a sharp dramatic flair make many lists Shmelkova a modest masterpieces of genre painting, the humorously-natured (Merchant at the photographer, watercolor, pencil, 1860.; Unbeknown to his wife (Y locker), watercolor, 1870), a more somber and austere (U maternity shelter, Italian pencil, sepia, 1860; Beggar (in a restaurant), Italian pencil, watercolor, 1860, Night Fire, watercolor, 1870 years, ibid.)

Shmelkov died in Moscow on 9 (21) October 1890. In 1890-1891 came out (in two volumes) phototype album of his drawings and sketches, I will establish his posthumous reputation.