Ivan Aivazovsky (1817 - 1900)

1. Ivan Aivazovsky

2. Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky (1817 - 1900) was a Russian painter of Armenian descent, most famous for his seascapes, which constitute more than half of his paintings. Brother of Armenian Catholic bishop Gabriel Aivazian, born in the town of Feodosiya, Crimea, he spent his childhood in poverty. His talent as an artist earned him sponsorship and entry to the Simpheropol gymnasium and later the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts, where he graduated with the gold medal. In 1838 he was sent to the Crimea for two years for independent study where he painted the beautiful works Seashore and Moon over Gurzuf. In 1840 he went abroad, returning only in 1844. He was accorded the title of academician and tasked with painting all the major Russian military ports on the Baltic Sea. In the 1840s during his stay in Italy Aivazovsky's painting gained its own individual style, and by 1850 his art was fully mature. In later life, his paintings of naval scenes earned him a longstanding commission from the Russian Navy. He was also commissioned by the Ottoman Sultan to paint various artworks which are still hang in Turkish museums. His work also hangs in the most renowned museums throughout the world, including New York's Metropolitan Museum and the Hermitage in St. Petersburg. With funds earned during his successful career as an artist he opened an art school and gallery in his home town of Feodosiya. Aivazovsky himself was accomplished in many areas, played the violin, was an architect, and dabbled in archeology Aivazovsky portrait by Tyranov Due to his long life in art, Aivazovsky became the most prolific Russian painter of his day and he left over 6000 works at his death in 1900. He is reputed to be a favorite among forgers. On May 1, 2003, a 3.5 m tall bronze statue of Ayvazovsky was unveiled near the Yerevan chamber music hall in the Armenian capital, created by the sculptor Yuri Petrosyan. (Armeniapedia)

3. A storm off the coast of Nice (1885)

4. A Storm - 1854 The State Russian Museum - Saint Petersburg

5. A storm off the coast of Odessa (1898)

6. Crash (Shipwreck) 1876 Aivazovsky National Art Gallery Feodosiya, Ukraine

7. Teenager portrait National Gallery of Armenia Aivazovsky's painting of his second wife Anna Burnazian (1882)

8. San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice  1847

9. Stormy sea National Gallery of Armenia American Shipping off the Rock of Gibraltar (1873)

10. Among the waves 1898 The Aivazovsky Art Gallery, Feodosia, Ukraine

11. Battle of Çesme at night 1848 The Aivazovsky Art Gallery, Feodosia, Ukraine

12. Battle of Navarino 1848

13. Before the storm, Feodosia 1850 Presidential Palace Armenia

14. Boat ride by Kumkapi in Constantinople 1846 Peterhof Palace Museums, Saint Petersburg

15. Bracing the waves 1890

16. Brig Mercury attacked by two Turkish ships (1892) Theodosia Art Gallery,  Crimea

17. Chaos (The Creation) 1841 MuseoArmeno, Venice, Italy Tower shipwreck 1847

18. Christopher Columbus 1880 Art Gallery of Armenia, Yerevan

19. Yerevan, Aivazovsky’s statue by the sculptor Yuri Petrosyan Constantinople, la mosquée de Top-Kahné 1884 Musée des Beaux-Arts de Brest

20. Panorama of Constantinopole 1856

21. Descent of Noah from Ararat (1889), National Gallery of Armenia

22. Fishermen on the seashore, 1852. Yerevan, National Gallery of Armenia

23. Gregory the Illuminator The Baptism of the Armenian People 1892 Aivazovsky National Art Gallery MkrtichKhrimian near Echmiadzin 1895 Aivazovsky National Art Gallery

24. Decuman wave 1850 State Russian Museum,  St. Petersburg

27. Ship Twelve Apostles 1897 Theodosia Art Gallery, Crimea

28. Moscow in winter from the Sparrow Hills

29. Ship in a stormysea off the Coast 1895

30. View of the Ayu Dag Crimea 1868

31. Volga near Zhiguli 1887 Museum of Russian Art in Kiev

32. In the storm, 1872

33. Acropolis of Athens 1883 Sailing ship

34. The disembarkation of Christopher Columbus with companions on Three Launches, on Friday 12th October 1492, at sunrise 1892

35. Flock of sheep with herdsmen, sunset 1860-70

36. Pushkins farewell to the sea 1887 The Central Pushkin Museum, Pushkin, Russia Byron in Venice GalerieKöller, Zürich

37. View of Yalta 1895

38. Battle of Vyborg Bay June 25th 1790 1846

39. Breakers on the Crimean Coast. 1892 Yerevan, Aivazovsky’s statue by the sculptor Yuri Petrosyan

40. Stormy sea, 1868 The Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow, Russia

41. Constantinople by moonlight, 1846

42. Malta Valetta Harbour 1844 The Russian Museum, St. Petersburg

43. Reval (heute Tallinn) in Estland 1845 GalerieKoller Zürich

44. Odessa by moonlight (Moon over Odessa) 1846 Regional Art Museum, Kaluga

45. On the Island of Crete 1867 The Aivazovsky Art Gallery, Feodosia, Ukraine Sailing ship 1870

46. Seashore calm 1843 The battle in the Chios Channel 1848

47. Storm 1886

48. Storm, 1851 Saint Petersburg, State Russian Museum The Leander tower in Constantinople 1848 Tretyakov Gallery

49. The landing of Subashi 1839

50. The rainbow, 1873 The Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow