Church in Pleso. 1888 Isaac Ilyich Levitan (1860-1900)

Description of Isaac Levitan’s painting Church in Plesa

Painted in oil on canvas in 1888 in Plesa.

Style in painting: realism.

Levitan was a master of landscapes. His paintings are filled with incredible depth, imbued with the Russian soul. Plese - this is where the artist not only lived, but also drew inexhaustible inspiration.

The painting depicts an old, lonely church of Peter and Paul. In the background depicts no less lonely crosses forgotten cemetery. Levitan painted several paintings of his favorite church. He was incredibly happy in those places, which he said more than once. It’s a warm summer day.

The combination of white and blue tones give the sky an incredible depth and liveliness. The artist painted it in the last rays of the sun. Levitan did not use a riot of colors, but everything in this picture is pleasing to the eye. It makes you think about eternity and frailty of the world. The leaning fence in the foreground adds to the soul’s longing. Once upon a time, this place served people, here they found their solace. Now it is forgotten.

Levitan painted this picture without distortion. It served as an occasion to paint another picture of the same church "Above Eternal Rest" in 1894. More than a hundred years later, we can immerse ourselves in that time, to understand and be imbued, as the artist did, with love for the place.

The church at Plese helps to remind those watching that there is religion in the world, and that we can’t do without it. The painting is very simple, but that does not diminish its invaluable contribution. The Peter and Paul Church burned down in 1903, but a very similar wooden church stands in its place. A huge number of people come to visit and pray there, believing that this is what is depicted in the famous painting by Levitan.

The painting is kept in the State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.

Levitan wrote to Tretyakov that he was not said to be happy that the paintings would come to him. He also said that the paintings he painted in Plesa include all his content and psyche.