Nikolay Sapunov was born on December 29 into a poor family of the owner of a semi-handicraft candle factory in Zamoskvorechye.
1880 - 1912
A Russian artist and theatre artist, a graphic artist and decorator, a bright and original representative of Symbolism and an innovator in the field of scenography. The artist was one of the most influential in the circle of the «Blue Rose», participated in all exhibitions of the group. He is the one who became an author of the emblem – locally blue roses on the cover of the catalog of the exhibition of the group. He worked in the genres of still-life and landscare, created decorative panels and genre paintings, as well as paintings on the themes of theater productions. Sapunov’s works, including sketches for scenery, are in the collections of the best museums and galleries in Russia.
Key ideas:
– The creator of the drawing “Blue Rose”, a sign of the Symbolist art movement of the Russian art, began his career as an Impressionist. In his early works, he appears as a painter of the “generation thirsty for beauty” (expression by S. Dyagilev). He very quickly moved from the minor “Levitan” to major “Korovin” motives. His art from the very beginning demonstrates the outstanding talent of the colorist, who literally lives in a color.
– At the same time, the features inherent in the aesthetics of Symbolism form in his art – plasticity and subject are increasingly aimed at the expression of non-material categories. Expressing emotions and mood, N. Sapunov focuses on music; at the first (Saratov) exhibition of Russian Symbolists “Red Rose”, five of his eight works had music names – in particular, “Nocturne”, as it was mentioned in the catalogue, was created to music by Tchaikovsky.
– Over the years, the image of the “world-theater” became the main in his painting; he creates a special genre “paintings about the play”. The picturesque action exposes the illusiveness of art, as if it is a motley and fragile shell of life chaos. The patron and for the most part the instigator of the “Blue Rose” youth Valery Bryusov expressed their world perception with the words “We turn our gaze inward … art is in the depths of the senses, in the spirit.”
– From the realm of flowers N. Sapunov prefers to depict exotic and greenhouse – those that help to use the unbridled coloristic talent to the full extent. At the same time, in his artistic manner, the painter skillfully combines the impressionistic impulsiveness of fast strokes with a mystical attitude to light and color, which is characteristic of Symbolism.
1880
1893
1897
1898 - 1900
1900 - 1902
1903 - 1904
1905
1906
1907 - 1909
1910 - 1911
1912
Nikolay Sapunov was born on December 29 into a poor family of the owner of a semi-handicraft candle factory in Zamoskvorechye.
Entered the painting department of The Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture. He became a student of A. Arkhipov, L. Pasternak and N. Kasatkin.
He joined the creative “Kuznetsovskiy” circle of innovative youngsters, which appeared at the college and served as the primary basis for the symbolist “Blue Rose”.
He studied at the highest landscape workshop of I. Levitan and was twice awarded for his drawings with a silver medal; his landscape “Winter” was presented at the 28th exhibition of Wanderers.
He met S. Mamontov, worked as an apprentice of decorator of the Moscow Art Theater V. Simov; participated at the invitation of S. Dyagilev in the exhibition “World of Art” in St. Petersburg; made a voyage to Italy through Austria and Germany; visited Warsaw on his way back.
Started classes at the highest art workshop of V. Serov and K. Korovin; actively worked in the genre of still life; together with the “Kuznetsov circle”, performed at the exhibition “Red Rose” in Saratov; began to cooperate with the Symbolist magazine “Libra”.
Entered the workshop of landscape painter A. Kiselev at the Higher Art School at the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts; began a creative collaboration with director Vsevolod Meyerhold; created numerous decoration; fully designed the 12th issue of the “Libra”.
Together with a group of young Symbolist innovators of Moscow, he participated in the large exhibition of “The World of Art” in St. Petersburg, where he exhibited six of his works.
He exhibited 7 of his paintings at the “Blue Rose”, participated in the 5th exhibition of the Union of Russian artists and in the exhibition “Wreath. Stefanos”; joined the Free Aesthetics Society and the Union of Russian Artists; collaborated with director F. Komissarzhevsky.
Together with Vsevolod Meyerhold, Serhei Sudeikin and Mikhail Kuzmin, he became the founder of the House of interlude in St. Petersburg; participated in the 7th exhibition of The Union of Russian artists, though, left it and joined the revived “World of Art”; started to work on the famous “blue still lifes”, one of which (“Vases, Flowers and Fruits”, the Tretyakov Gallery) is considered a perfect example.
On June 27, during a boat walk on the bay in Terijoki, Nikolay Sapunov drowned.