“Madman” some called him. Today we stand before the bust of Alexander Andreyevich Ivanov a testament to a life dedicated to art. This bust immortalizes a man whose vision often clashed with the conventions of his time.
Alexander Andreyevich Ivanov was born in Saint Petersburg in 1806. His father was an art professor at the Imperial Academy of Arts. Ivanov followed in his footsteps. He enrolled in the Academy at age 11.
Ivanov’s early talent earned him two silver medals. In 1827 he received a gold medal for his painting. It was titled “Joseph interprets the butler’s and the baker’s dreams.”
This award allowed Ivanov to study art abroad. Before leaving Russia he painted “Bellerophon sent to a campaign against the Chimera.” In 1830 Ivanov journeyed to Europe. He first visited Germany then Italy.
Rome became his home for many years. Ivanov studied the Renaissance masters. He also explored ancient art. His early works included “Apollo Hyacinthus and Cyparis singing and playing.” Later he created “The Appearance of Christ to Maria Magdalena.” This painting brought him recognition in Rome and Saint Petersburg. In 1836 the Academy of Arts granted him the title of Academician.
He befriended Gogol in Rome. He was also influenced by the Nazarenes. Ivanov spent twenty years in Rome working on his masterpiece. It was titled “The Appearance of Christ Before the People.”
He sketched constantly preparing for the painting. Some recognize these sketches as masterpieces. The Russian Museum in St. Petersburg holds a comprehensive collection of his works. Ivanov died of cholera in 1858. He was first buried in Novodevichy Cemetery. Later he was reburied in the Tikhvin Cemetery of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra.
Critical opinion of Ivanov’s work improved after his death. Though he adhered to neoclassicism he struggled to gain acceptance. Alexander Andreyevich Ivanov became known as a master of one work. This was for his painting “The Appearance of Christ Before the People”. It took him twenty years to complete. His dedication remains for us to remember. The bust of Alexander Andreyevich Ivanov commemorates an artist’s unwavering commitment to his vision.