Vasily Polenov often repeated his most successful works. Depicting a typical corner of old Moscow, this is a later version of one of the artist’s most famous paintings — Moscow Courtyard (1878, Tret. Gal.). Combining elements of a landscape and genre scene, the canvas is filled with the poetry of a peaceful existence and the virtues of a lazy existence. Polenov fully reveals his mastery of plein-air painting in this work, making it one of the most important canvases in his oeuvre and in the history of Russian landscape painting in general. The artist works in light colours, softening the reflections and avoiding dark tones and bright patches. Permeated with light and air, this picture is a symbol of old Russia.

Polenov Vasily

Polenov, Vasily Dmitriyevich
1844, St Petersburg - 1927, Bekhovo (Tula Province)
Painter, draughtsman, landscape painter, author of works on biblical subjects. Took lessons from Pavel Chistyakov (1859-61) and studied at the Imperial Academy of Arts (1863-67). Graduated from the legal faculty of the St Petersburg University (1871). Fellow of the Imperial Academy of Arts in Germany, Italy, France and Britain (1872-76). Academician (1876), professor of the Imperial Academy of Arts (1892). Member of the Abramtsevo circle (from 1873). Helped to found Sawa Mamontov''''s Russian Private Opera in Moscow (1884). Contributed to many exhibitions. Taught at the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture (1882-94). People''''s Artist of Russia (1926). Opened a museum at the Borok estate (now the Vasily Polenov Estate Museum).