Crying Yaroslavna by Vasily Perov

Crying Yaroslavna by Vasily Perov

One of the last works of the great artist bears the stamp of dying talent. The picture was created when the master was sick. However, despite the somewhat inaccurate, “downed” drawing, the deliberate pose, painful pathos, the picture retained the style and technique of the great painter.

The plot of the oldest Russian literary work in the eyes of the artist is of particular importance. Great suffering Yaroslavna. Her face is turned towards the sky in a desperate plea. The setting sun painted the horizon in a bluish-pink color, the picket fence points were directed into the sky, the birds were alarmed by the lamentations and were circling above the ancient city. The whole picture is filled with anxious expectation, a premonition of tragedy. The artist as if put into his work his own desperate desire to live.

The colors of the costume of the heroine are consonant with the surrounding landscape. The author tries to be reliable in the transfer of apparel and landscape, but it is impossible not to notice some theatricality, conventionality, fake brightness in the work.

The main attention of the artist is drawn to the face of the heroine. This is perhaps the only place in the work, performed with extraordinary skill and authenticity. The artist managed to convey despair, internal tension and timid hope of Yaroslavna. The heroine is ready to fly up into the sky to fly to the aid of her beloved prince. The genuine sincerity of the heroine is the main success of a great artist. The picture was a desperate attempt by the master to overcome the disease, to return to normal work, to creativity.

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