Summer landscape. 1860 Alexey Kondratievich Savrasov (1830-1897)
Alexey Kondratievich Savrasov – Summer landscape. 1860
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Painter: Alexey Kondratievich Savrasov
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Painted in the sixties of the nineteenth century, exact date unknown. Materials - canvas, oil, dimensions 27 by 38 cm. It is in the Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow, Russian Federation. Alexey Kondratyevich is an unsurpassed master of Russian landscape on whose canvases the nature is represented many times, in his canvases it lives and breathes at any time of year. His best and most poetic painting is considered to be Rooks have Arrived, 1871. In this small work the artist uses oil, which, especially from a great distance, seems to be an airy watercolor, which is especially noticeable to the upper right corner and in the farthest background, bathed in sunlight and lost in the haze.
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Description of the painting "Summer Landscape" by Alexey Savrasov
Painted in the sixties of the nineteenth century, exact date unknown. Materials - canvas, oil, dimensions 27 by 38 cm. It is in the Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow, Russian Federation.
Alexey Kondratyevich is an unsurpassed master of Russian landscape on whose canvases the nature is represented many times, in his canvases it lives and breathes at any time of year. His best and most poetic painting is considered to be Rooks have Arrived, 1871.
In this small work the artist uses oil, which, especially from a great distance, seems to be an airy watercolor, which is especially noticeable to the upper right corner and in the farthest background, bathed in sunlight and lost in the haze. The entire constructed, deep perspective tends toward it, originating from a small lake formed from behind a dam, picked up by a path rising up the slope and lost in the infinity of golden meadows. It even looks like a girl in a white shirt and a bright red skirt is walking along the path in search of her cow. The animal, swollen by the heat, has come to the watering hole and cautiously climbs out of the bushes toward the stream. The brook runs farther, beyond the lower left edge of the painting. The entire composition reflects depth and is well thought out.
The color scheme with prevailing ochre, brown and dark-green shades is somewhat unusual for a summer subject and at first it seems a bit gloomy, but having looked closer a viewer understands that the painter wanted to convey the atmosphere of a hot and sultry day, when the sky is covered by solid veil of translucent clouds and the sun colors everything around with gold. Judging by the color of the fields, it might be August coming to an end.
The author’s love for enlivening details of nature can be seen in his careful fine lines with which the master draws the reeds and grass in the foreground, in bright specks of meadow flowers, in the fluttering highlights on the water and in the multi-faceted silhouettes of leaves and tree crowns.
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The stream itself is the central focus, its surface reflecting the muted tones of the sky and surrounding vegetation. Patches of reeds and grasses line the banks, adding to the impression of untamed nature. A small herd of cattle grazes peacefully near the waters edge in the middle ground, contributing to the idyllic atmosphere.
Beyond the immediate foreground, rolling hills rise gently, culminating in a hazy vista where the sky appears pale yellow. This distant view is deliberately softened, creating an atmospheric perspective that emphasizes the vastness and tranquility of the scene. The light source seems to originate from behind these hills, casting long shadows and highlighting the contours of the land.
The color palette is restrained, primarily utilizing earthy tones – greens, browns, yellows, and grays – which evoke a sense of warmth and serenity. Theres an absence of vibrant hues, reinforcing the feeling of quiet contemplation. The overall effect suggests a deliberate attempt to capture not just the visual appearance of the landscape but also its emotional resonance – a place of peace, abundance, and natural beauty.
Subtly, there’s a suggestion of human presence through the cattle, yet they are integrated seamlessly into the environment, reinforcing the harmony between humanity and nature. The painting conveys an idealized vision of rural life, likely intended to evoke feelings of nostalgia or longing for simpler times.