The patient teacher Nikolai Petrovich Bogdanov-Belsky (1868-1945)

Description of the painting "At the Sick Teacher" by Nikolai Bogdanov Belsky

The painting was completed in 1897. The style in painting is realism, genre - genre painting.

The painting is in storage at the State Tretyakov Gallery.

Bogdanov-Belsky was born into a poor peasant family in Smolensk province. Since childhood he was interested in painting, and after his primary education he went to learn icon painting in the Trinity Sergius Lavra. His paintings were appreciated at the very beginning of his artistic life, he received many awards and titles.

Bogdanov-Belsky is considered an artist of peasant themes. Because the main part of his work falls on the description of the life of simple, not rich people. He was very fond of painting portraits of children, although he never had his own.

The artist led a reclusive life, completely giving himself to art. In his paintings often touched upon the theme of the peasant school. It always worried him, because once he was a poor boy from a poor family dreamed of education. His paintings are filled with kindness, love and peace.

After 1894 the artist creates a series of paintings devoted to the folk school, which was formed Rachinsky. "At the sick teacher" is a painting from this cycle. On it the artist depicted the children who came to check on their teacher. He is very sick, he can not even get out of bed. But at the same time he is wearing a snow-white shirt, which as if makes his image holy. His face is very kind, he is genuinely worried about his peasant children, even trying to tell something, because he is holding a book in his hands.

The boy sitting on the bed looks at the teacher with concern and sympathy. The blond fellow looks confused, apparently not knowing how best to behave. The atmosphere in the teacher’s house is very simple but cozy. The artist has depicted a violin on the wall. Perhaps the teacher taught music in a peasant school or was just passionate about it.

The painting makes you sad, to think about how important education was in those years for children. Sickness or loss of a teacher was perceived as a personal tragedy for everyone.