Place: Kiev
Born: 1842
Death: 1914
Biography:
Vladimir Donatovich Orlovsky, also known as Volodymyr Orlovskyi, was a renowned Ukrainian realist painter born in Kiev, Ukraine in 1842. He is considered one of the founders of Ukrainian Realist landscape painting. Orlovsky's artistic talent was recognized at an early age, and he went on to study at the Imperial Academy of Arts in Saint Petersburg under the guidance of Alexey Bogolyubov, one of the most famous Russian landscape painters of the 19th century.
Orlovsky was born into a landowning noble family of Ukrainian descent. His art teacher, Ivan Soshenko, recognized his talent and recommended him to Taras Shevchenko, who helped him secure admission to the Saint Petersburg Academy of Fine Arts in 1861. During his studies, Orlovsky received a large silver medal at the academy in 1863.
Upon completing his studies in 1868, Orlovsky gained recognition from his colleagues and the general public, earning the title of artist of the first degree. He received a gold medal for his paintings of Crimean landscapes, which allowed him to travel abroad on government allowance. From 1869 to 1872, Orlovsky worked in Paris, France, as well as Switzerland, Germany, and Italy. In 1874, he was promoted to the status of an academic, and in 1878, he was made professor for his painting Harvest.
Orlovsky's artistic style was influenced by the work of Arkhip Kuindzhi and Ivan Aivazovsky. His paintings often depicted landscapes and scenes from everyday life. Orlovsky's popularity was on par with that of Ivan Aivazovsky, and his work was highly regarded by the art community.
In 1897, Orlovsky became ill with typhoid and moved from St. Petersburg to Kiev, and later to Genoa, Italy, where he spent the rest of his life. His legacy as a Ukrainian realist painter continues to be celebrated, and his work can be found in various museums, including the Kharkov Museum of Art and the Kramskoy Museum of Fine Arts. For more information on Orlovsky's life and work, visit Wikioo.org or Wikipedia.
Orlovsky's contribution to Ukrainian realist landscape painting is significant, and his legacy continues to inspire artists and art enthusiasts alike. To explore more of his work and learn about other notable artists, visit Wikioo.org or check out the Nizhny Novgorod State Art Museum and Kramskoy Museum of Fine Arts collections.