The artist is Golovin
Golovin created a series of portraits of the famous opera singer. In these works, the artist simultaneously conveyed the appearance of the artist and the image of the role he created. As theaters note, the moment of action is pronounced in the portraits of Golovin, which makes it possible to imagine a musical phrase that sounds in this period on the stage. "Portrait f. Chaliapin in the role of Godunov " – majestic and monumental. This is a portrait-spine unfolding against the background of the theater curtain. The luxurious, embroidered with precious stones and gold thread, the royal vestment of Chaliapin -Boris occupies most of the picturesque space, but this does not interfere with the perception of the bright expressiveness of the face of the depicted. It does not dissolve in a stream of decorative shapes, but, clearly manifesting, as if completing the composition. On the canvas appears a tense, psychologically rich, full of drama image of King Boris. “I wanted to give one of the best theatrical images of Chaliapin in this portrait,” the master wrote in his memoirs. (G. To.). Russian portrait. XX century: St. Petersburg, 2001. With. 125.
Chaliapin Fedor Ivanovich (1873–1938) – singer (bass), opera artist, director, artist. People’s Artist of the Republic (1918). Chamber singer. Since 1922 he lived abroad. Russian portrait. XX century: St. Petersburg, 2001. With. 28.
The artist, known as the largest master of theatrical and decoration art, created a number of peculiar theatrical portraits. Several times he wrote Fedor Ivanovich Chaliapin (1873–1938) – in the roles of Mephistopheles, Demon, Farlaf, Olofern.
The portrait in the role of Boris Godunov was executed during the production in. E. Meyerhold of the opera of the same name m. P. Mussorgsky at the Mariinsky Theater (1912). Chaliapin appears against the background of a heavy curtain in the form of a magnificent and powerful king Boris. The artist posed immediately after the performance in makeup and costume – a coronation royal outfit, which was made according to the sketches of the author of the portrait. The brilliance of precious stones, the flickering of heavy golden brocade, for which the artist glued a piece of shiny foil to the picturesque surface was virtuoso.
According to p. And. Neadovsky, a portrait of Chaliapin in the role of Boris Godunov was ordered by Golovin specifically for the Russian museum comrade museum manager Count D. And. Fat.
