The brightest original artist of the last century, Ilya Mashkov, got a rich and interesting life. He passed through the influence of various masters, searches and finding his own place in art. His legacy includes several hundred works in many collections around the world.
Ilya Ivanovich was born in the village of Mikhailovskaya in the then volost of the Don Host. Of the nine children of a large peasant family, he was the eldest.
The road to vocation
From an early age, the boy was gifted with artistic talent. He went to school, but from there his parents took their son to help them. The adults themselves were engaged in small-scale wholesale trade. The same path was intended for children. Ilya was a fruit dealer. Later he moved to another shop, however, the work did not leave any joy there either. But Ilya was entrusted with drawing posters with signs.
The boy really liked this activity. When he had free time, Mashkov made sketches from the surrounding reality. Drawing fascinated the boy. Once a gymnasium teacher drew attention to the drawing boy and asked if he did not want to study either. Surprised, Ilya did not even suspect that they were being taught this. From that time on, Mashkov's classes began.
He received his first knowledge and advice from a gymnasium teacher. The aspiring artist finally understood his vocation and decided to become a real painter. In 1900, the young man became a student at the capital's school of painting, architecture and sculpture. He was taught by Serov, Korovin, Vasnetsov. From the first years, the student showed outstanding abilities and eccentricity.
He liked the overabundance of color, hyperbole. At the same time, the future artist paid a lot of attention to the drawing technique, showed amazing efficiency. From 1904 Ilya gave lessons. Working with inspiration Mashkov got to his feet quickly. From 1906 he set up a workshop. The building became his creative laboratory until the end of his days.
In 1907 there was an acquaintance with Konchalovsky. This meeting turned the whole biography of the future master upside down. In 1908 he went to Europe. There the young painter learned about new trends. The student left the school, as he had already found his way. The artist worked hard, took lessons in Korovin's studio, painted to order.
The artist's exhibitions were held in Paris. There his work was acquired by the famous philanthropist Savva Morozov. Ilya Ivanovich's creations were distinguished by their unusualness. Together with Konchalovsky Mashkov in 1911 became the founder of the art community "Jack of Diamonds". In 1910 an exhibition was held under this name. After her, it was decided to create a society. The name shocked. Capital painters hinted at a revolution in art. They achieved their goals. The masters opposed traditional academism with realism. Painters advocated impressionism, cubism and fauvism.
Ilya Ivanovich was one of the rebellious ideologists. He inspired Jacks to paint still lifes that look more like signs for grocery stores. Experiments were also carried out with colors and shapes. Mashkov advocated objectivity in art, in contrast to the avant-garde. In 1911-1914 the painter became a secretary in the community, took part in all exhibitions. After 1914 "Jack of Diamonds" Ilya Ivanovich left and went abroad.
New trends
Returning, the artist entered the "World of Art". The association included the most outstanding masters of painting. The main idea at that time was the idea of neoclassicism. The community's contribution to Russian painting was enormous, but at the time of joining it, the organization turned into a formal one. Ilya Ivanovich at that time supported his comrades, but gradually switched to a new realism.
In 1925 Mashkov entered the AHRR, becoming one of the first founders of socialist realism. He remained in the association until 1929. The master painted modern paintings, porters of the foremost workers, still lifes with an abundance of products. Ilya Ivanovich spent the war years in Abramtsevo. He wrote to soldiers, home front workers. The outlook of the late Mashkov was optimistic.
Until the last days, the master's passion for exaggeration persisted. The painter took part in many exhibitions at the beginning of the last century. In 1916 he presented over seventy of his works. The exhibition has become the largest ever. Since the twenties, the artist has been involved abroad a lot.
The famous master taught almost all his life. In his youth, he developed his own method of teaching painting. The school opened by the master at the beginning of the last century became the central studio of the AFRR. Among her students were Osmerkin, Tatlin and Mukhina. The artist worked at VKHUTEIN, the Military Academy, various courses.
Life goes on
The painter established his personal life three times. His first chosen one was Sofia Arenzvari. Mashkov's wife was an Italian since 1905. A year later, the first child appeared in the family, the painter's son Valentin. He later became a designer.
The second wife of the master is Elena Fedorova, an artist. The third wife was also a colleague. In 1922, a wedding took place with Maria Danilova. Ilya Mashkov died in 1944, on March 20. He left a considerable legacy.
The master's paintings are kept in almost eighty cities around the world. The widow donated the most impressive collection to the Volgograd Art Museum. The painter's works are rarely put up for auction. They sell them for huge sums.
The work of the master is studied by art critics, books are dedicated to him. His name was given to the Volgograd Museum. The artist himself has not been forgotten either. The largest museums in the world periodically organize exhibitions of his work.
In 2014, a demonstration of the late works of Ilya Ivanovich was held in Moscow. The success was enormous.
