The Itinerants: The Masters of Russian Realism : Second Half of the 19th and Early 20th Centuries (Schools & Movements) [Hardcover]

Elena Nesterova (Author)

Book Description

Series: Schools & Movements | Publication Date: October 1, 1997

This group of Russian painters, whose work is little known in the West, was the most remarkable in the history of Russian art. Founded in the mid-19th century, the Society for Itinerant Art Exhibitions (known as Peredvizhniki in Russian) consisted of a group of realist painters who decided that the best way for their work to be seen was to hold exhibitions in the Salon style of the French painters of the time, but in the form of travelling shows which moved around Russia. This helped to popularise the work of these painters, and of Russian art in general, and it helped them to sell their paintings and thus finance their work. The painters traveled with the exhibitions, recording the lives and customs of their fellow countrymen, and providing an insight into the life in Tsarist Russia, right up until the 1918 Revolution.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

In late Imperial Russia, a group of painters called the Society for Itinerant Art Exhibitions popularized their realistic paintings by exhibiting in salon-style shows that traveled around Russia. These artists made up, in fact, the most remarkable movement in the history of Russian art. The movement was democratic, aiming to make art accessible to the masses. By the 1870s, members concentrated on folklore and the natural beauty of the country, portraying the common people in a variety of working conditions and pastimes. Particularly fascinating and of great historical interest are the scenes of Russian peasants participating in religious ceremonies, e.g., Ilya Repin's "A Religious Procession in Kursk" captures the devoutness of the peasants. The scenes of the landscape, particularly the works of Isaac Levitan, are breathtakingly beautiful. The reproductions of these works are excellent, and the text is clear and concise. Though one wishes that there were an index and bibliography, this book would be a fine addition to most every serious collection.?Martin Chasin, Adult Inst. Bridgeport, Ct.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 260 pages
• Publisher: Parkstone Press (October 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1859952542
• ISBN-13: 978-1859952542
• Product Dimensions: 13 x 9.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,826,825 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book about the Peredvizhniki, July 15, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Itinerants: The Masters of Russian Realism : Second Half of the 19th and Early 20th Centuries (Schools & Movements) (Hardcover)

I would highly recommend this book to any person who takes interest in Russian painting. "The Itinerants" is an excelently illustrated volume that provides invaluable information on Russian art of the end if 19th century. The number of reproductions is really very impressive. The Itinerants (The Peredvizhniki) were the most important movement in the history of Fine Arts in Russia of the late 1800s. Unfortunately, their art is not very well known in the United States. This book could be a great introduction.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a forgotten world of art, May 26, 2004

By 

lowell duluth "lowell duluth" (Manchester, UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Itinerants: The Masters of Russian Realism : Second Half of the 19th and Early 20th Centuries (Schools & Movements) (Hardcover)

This is surely one of the most unpredictable, long-overdue art books it has been my privelege to find. Look in virtually any anthology of `world art` and you will usually look in vain for Repin, Polenov, Shishkin (the Russian Constable?), the marvellous Nikolai Ge (pronounced Gyay) whose profound religious paintings have been scandalously ignored by most critics, the great Isaac Levitan, who was Chekhov`s friend and seemed to be able to paint stillness and silence itself...and so on.
You will discover riches here - a world of seemingly neglected art by masters, many the equivalent of the accepted greats of Western art. This is a book to lose oneself in. Much has been said about the `Russian soul`, but here you may well find it. A book of unexpected beauty which, along with the artists themselves, should be far better known.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best books on the subject of Russian painters!, February 21, 2010

By 

FX artist "inkboyt" (Redondo Beach, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Itinerants: The Masters of Russian Realism : Second Half of the 19th and Early 20th Centuries (Schools & Movements) (Hardcover)

I was lucky to purchase this book about 12 years ago when it was still in publication. It has great reproductions with vivid colors. Repin's paintings look fantastic, among others. It is a quality book with a wide range of styles from various artists of the period. This book truly opened my eye with regards to Russian paintings as if looking through a gate to a rarely seen artistic El Dorado. That said, I can not believe how much some vendors are charging for the book unless it is in such high demand among collectors. If you can afford it, grab a copy.