Patrick Bade
Russian Portraits: From Peter the Great to the Revolution
Summary
The lecture delves into the period from the 1860s to the early 1920s, examining Russian portraiture and cultural exchanges between Russia and France. It explores the Itinerants, a group breaking from the St. Petersburg Academy in 1863 to create distinctly Russian art, with influential figures like Stasov, Tretyakov, and Mamontov playing crucial roles. The lecture underscores Repin’s intimate and informal portraits, emphasizing a profound connection between the artist and the sitter, while also discussing other notable Russian artists and their iconic works.
Patrick Bade
Patrick Bade is a historian, writer, and broadcaster. He studied at UCL and the Courtauld Institute of Art. He was a senior lecturer at Christie’s Education for many years and has worked for the Art Fund, Royal Opera House, National Gallery, and V&A. He has published on 19th- and early 20th-century paintings and historical vocal recordings. His latest book is Music Wars: 1937–1945.
One shouldn’t really rate artists in this way. But to me, Rembrandt and Velázquez, as far as portraits are concerned, are the ultimate great artists. Nobody comes quite near them.
I don’t think they were, actually. It depends on the period. Both under the czars and under Stalin, there were periods where Jews were discriminated against and persecuted.