Vasily Vereshchagin, Turkestan series

[Евгений]

In June 1868 in the small Russian garrison Vereshchagin participates in the defense of the fortress of Samarkand Bukhara Emir's troops, for which he was awarded the Order of St.George 4-th degree, which is awarded for outstanding military achievements. It was only adopted by the artist award. Returning from Turkestan, Vereshchagin in 1871 settled in Munich, where, based on sketches and brought collections continues to work on the Turkestan subjects. The final Turkestan series includes thirteen paintings, sketches and eighty-one hundred thirty and three drawing - in this composition was shown in his first personal exhibition Vereshchagin in London in 1873 and then in 1874 in St. Petersburg and Moscow.

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That showed Vereshchagin in Turkestan series was new, original, unexpected: it was a whole unknown world, submitted strikingly in its truth and distinctiveness. Amazed colors and novelty of writing, technology, unlike the technique of Russian contemporaries, who seemed inexplicable in a young amateur artist, just a few years seriously engaged in painting. Many of the artists (including Perov, Chistyakov, initially Repin) Turkestan series seemed a foreign and even alien in Russian art, colorful patches on his formal dress, but it became the predominant view expressed Kramskoy: Turkestan series - a brilliant success of the new Russian school , its absolute achievement, "highly elevates the spirit of Russian people", makes the heart beat "the pride that Vereshchagin Russian, it is Russian ..
 
The success of the Turkestan series in Russia, as already noted, was immense. "In my opinion, this is - the event. This conquest of Russia, much more than winning Kaufman" - sums up public opinion Kramskoy. The need to make a series of public domain is not in doubt, but the issue was complicated by the fact that Vereshchagin set prerequisite purchase the collection in its full strength. That made no court, no government agencies are committed by private persons - a Moscow collector P. Tretyakov, bought in 1874 for the Turkestan series of ninety two thousand silver rubles, and opened it to the public initially at the premises of Moscow Society of Art Lovers, and then after the additions of new rooms specifically for Vereshchaginskaya series - in his gallery.