Portrait of the writer Nikolai Leskov. 1894 Valentin Serov (1865-1911)

Description of Valentin Serov’s painting "Portrait of Leskov".

Valentin Serov is one of the most famous Russian artists, famous throughout Russia and the world for his portraits in which he depicted the intelligentsia of his time. Many portraits Serov wrote by order of collector Tretyakov, and with N.S. Leskov the artist began to work for the gallery of the patron.

In 1894, months before the famous writer’s death, Valentin Serov and wrote his portrait. It was this image that was destined to become iconic and capture the image of Leskov for future generations, because even a hundred years later most people remember how the writer looked, thanks to this portrait by Serov.

The portrait is quite typical for the artist’s brush. The central positioning of the figure, with the shoulders and chest captured, but with the arms cropped (unlike earlier portraits). The neutral dark background is also not an innovative solution, and fits well into the composition of the picture. But the main thing is its hero himself.

Long graying writer, whose face expresses the burden of years. As you know, in the portraits of Serov the eyes of the people depicted are always important. And Leskov’s eyes are truly mesmerizing. The writer looks carefully, patiently and warmly, thus disposing the viewer, and telling his story.

It is known that Leskov was already ill when the portrait was created. Knowing this fact, his strong and unbroken gaze seems even more impressive. The painting itself seems very simple, both in composition and in color.

Indeed, there are no superfluous details or interior elements, and the coloring consists only of shades of several colors, but such "simplicity" suits the lifestyle of the writer and emphasizes his age.

Leskov’s portrait deservedly occupied one of the places of honor in Tretyakov’s gallery, which he called "portraits of famous Russian figures of art and science.