Bryullov highly valued the genius of Pushkin. The brevity of the acquaintance, which lasted less than a year, the sudden death of the poet prevented Bryullov from capturing Pushkin’s features. Deeply mourned the artist about the poet’s death. “They talked about Pushkin,” Mokritsky wrote in his diary, “he read his poems, admired every line, every thought of the famous poet… envies his death… he was sorry that the domestic climate does not favor his health.
In the apartment Bryullov stood on the fireplace gilded bust of the poet, who later passed into the possession of the descendants of his brother. The theme of Bryullov’s new painting “The Fountain of Bakhchisarai” was quite natural. Poetry and dramatic Pushkin’s poem attracted the artist.
The painting was for Bryullov a kind of artistic monument in honor of the deceased poet. It was started soon after Pushkin’s death. Bryullov’s work on the “Bakhchisarai Fountain” lasted several years. In sketches and worksheets of the master sketches for the “Bakhchisarai fountain” alternate with sketches for the portrait of Vitali, “Siege of Pskov”, “Ascension of the Mother of God”, etc. Bryullov portrayed the harem life of the “timid wives” Giray who spend their leisure time with simple fun.
In Pushkin’s poem Bryullov chose not the dramatic moment of the clash between Zarema and Maria, but the description of the serene life of the half-asleep harem. Under the spreading trees, by the pool, young captives settled with children’s curiosity watching the splashing fish in the water. Their joy is tempered by the incredulous gaze of the eunuch, who jealously preserves the honor of Girey.
The fun of the “young wives” is opposed by Maria’s quiet sadness, sitting alone on the far window. Her light silhouette with a lowered head light spot is drawn against the background of their variegated clothes. Bryullov did not immediately come to this decision of intention.
In an early pencil sketch, he portrayed young women bathing in the pool. Maria was not there yet. The content of the composition was exhausted by showing the beauty of a naked body. Seeking to approach the poem closer, Pushkin, Bryullov, in subsequent sketches, not only introduced Maria into the composition, but also strengthened the peculiarity of the eastern scene. Developing a type in pencil sketches, he looked for typical images of eastern women. The national color was also brought by the clothes of the most iridescent colors.
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