Gallery. Contents.

«1812 year». GALLERY

Franz Alekseevitch Rubo (1856-1928)
The Fragments of «The Battle of Borodino» Panorama

The legendary battle that History had not seen alike before - the Battle of Borodino - started on the 7th of September 1812. It was the battle of giants. The Battle spread over the territory of 49 sq. Km. 120 thousand participated from Russian side and French side had 135 thousand soldiers. The panorama of famous Russian battle artist F.A.Rubo is devoted to this event.
On the huge canvas (115m length and 15m height) the artist engraved the most dramatic moment of the battle at 12.30 on the 7th of September 1812. The second fierce attack on the Semyonovskoe village is in progress, after the furious combats the Bagration fleches had been seized and the successive attack on the Grand (Rayevsky) redoubt was repelled. The battle last for 15 hours. The myth of invincibility of the Grand Armee had been shattered. Napoleon's goal - to crush Russian army in one battle was not achieved.
In Borodino Battle Russian troops displayed the greatest courage, fortitude and heroism. According to M.I.Kutuzov " the battle… was the most bloody among those that are known in modern times. The place of the battle is totally gained by us and the enemy retreated to the position from that he came to attack us".

Vasiliy Vasilyevich Vereschagin (1842-1904)
The Patriotic War of 1812 Series of Canvases

"The horrors of war, brutality and wild frenzy of battles; inexpressible sufferings of innocent victims sent to be killed; voluntariness and naivety of those victims that are performing War like any other employment… heroism and simplicity of soul; entire fields of killed and mutilated; thousands of wounded plunged at the aid points in such an infernal sufferings that have no name; wagon trains of mutilated… dozens of miles of snow plains where hundreds and thousands of abandoned and wounded were freezing to slow and terrible death; and all these painted with inimitable fire and skill with enthusiasm coming from the depth of the shocked soul - that's what created the canvases that no one had ever painted in Europe".

V.V.Stasov "Twenty five years of Russian art".

Peter von Hess, born Dusseldorf (1792-1871)
The Battles of 1812

The German artist Peter von Hess performed in the forties of last century by the special order of Tsar Nikolay I twelve canvases describing different episodes of the Patriotic war. All these canvases are in the Winter Palace in St.Petersburg. The copies of these masterpieces in our gallery.

Lithographics by Christian Wilhelm Faber du Faur

Christian Wilhelm Faber du Faur (18 August 1780 at Stuttgart - 1857)
Lithographics

Christian Wilhelm Faber du Faur - the french artillerist, colonel and talented artist. He was an eye-witness and participant of 1812 war. His drawings are naturalistic as photos and are invaluable evidence of the events the author was involved. Profound observant spectator can realise the artist's personal attitude to the happenings of this war through the tuned yellow pages. By its tragedy "The killed jaeger", "Borodino battlefield on the 7th of October 1812", "The crossing of Berezina on the 28th of November 1812" are especially remembered.

Francisco de Goya y Lucientes (1746-1828)
"Disasters of war" series of etchings

SOON

Francisco de Goya had never painted the pictures about russian-french war of 1812. He had his own war. Five years (from 1808 till 1813) Spain was courageously fighting against Napoleon and his marshals and won. The war in Russia lost by Napoleon had played a big role in this victory. But it should not be forgotten that the resistance of Spanish patriots considerably weakened the forces of french Emperor (such marshals as Massena, Marmont and Suchet were in Spain) and made determined contribution in victory of Russian arms.

Diorama «Battle at Maloyaroslavetz. October, 12/24 1812»

The battle-painting was created by national artist of the Russian Federation Efim Isaakovich Deshalit who recreates in details one of the most significant episodes of the battle at Maloyaroslavetz - battle at the monastery square.
Here you can see an «electronic» version of the diorama which can be previewed only by Microsoft Internet Explorer.

SOON:

Albert Adam (1786-1862)
Lithographics

Published as part of «1812 year» project.
Authors will appreciate constructive criticism, proposals and remarks.