K. Bryullov, "The Horseman" - a masterpiece of Russian painting of the Romantic era

In 1832, traveling in Italy, K. Bryullov took an order from the Russian countess Yu. P. Samoilova to paint a picture depicting her two Italian girls - a small four-year-old Amacilia and a young beauty Giovannina. The order was executed. Now this picture called "The Horsewoman" decorates the Tretyakov Gallery. Looking at the canvas, we can say with confidence that the artist worked with great enthusiasm and painted amazing beauty, embodied the deep ideas of romanticism of the beginning of the XIX century painting.

The painting is considered one of the most striking and characteristic masterpieces that Bryullov created. "Horsewoman" is distinguished, above all, by the unusual artistic image, picturesque plan. The image of a fragile, graceful girl, who easily manages a rickety horse, causes genuine admiration not only for the little sister who watches her from the porch of the house or the gazebo, but also from the viewer looking at the canvas from another, real, world.

Draw an unusual portrait of a girl in full growth, sitting astride a horse - that's the task that set Bryullov. "The Horsewoman" is depicted not in static but in motion, at the moment when she stops the black horse with a graceful handle, excited by the walk and excited by the presentiment of a thunder-storm in the atmosphere. This premonition is transmitted through the light and shadow, through the gusted branches of the trees, the sky, overflowed by the overflowing clouds. The light falling on fragile figures of people, brightly allocates them against a background of the darkened nature, thin nuances of which was depicted by Bryullov. The horseman, however, is very calm and serene. It seems that the surrounding atmosphere only increases her joy from a sense of completeness of life.

This amazing painting is very decorative, it attracts the eye with a subtle coloring, a lot of subtle halftones of color and light, which Karl Bryullov displayed on it. "Horsewoman" is distinguished by a harmonious combination of truthfulness, realism of the image with a deep symbolism of romanticism. This is emphasized both by the unusual composition, the contrast of the image (after all, the equestrian portrait is more suitable for the commander or the emperor, and not for the young girl).

Many art historians note some static character of the Amazon face, but here lies a deep meaning that Bryullov put into this image. The horsewoman, her fragile figure, the way she is manipulated with a horse, even her hat with a fluttering veil, are the embodiment of earthly beauty and strength from the feeling of fullness of life and youth, so the tension in the nature of the impending element is indifferent to it. This beauty is emphasized by the light that envelops the girl and highlights her on a dark background, as well as the ecstatic and slightly envious look of the little girl watching her. In a bright artistic image, one of the main ideas of Russian Romanticism is transmitted - the greatness and beauty of an earthly man who challenges the elements.

The overall impression of the picture is amazing. Amazed by the skill with which her Russian artist Briullov performed. "Horsewoman" - a picture that is undoubtedly one of the original ornaments of the most complete and diverse collection of paintings by Russian artists in the State Tretyakov Gallery and the real "pearl" of the painting of the Romantic era.