29 Тексты для чтения. 9-11 классы

ISAAC LEVITAN

Isaac Ilyich Levitan, the great Russian artist, became the first painter of the Russian scenery, who revealed all its beauty. He continued and developed the traditions of painters of the Russian realistic school – Savrasov, Polenov, Serov. Levitan found significant meaning and poetry in what would seem the most everyday subjects.

He is a very individual sort of painter. He deeply felt what he wished to express and his brush transferred these feelings to the canvas. It is interesting to note that a master of landscape, he never introduced figures into it.

For his life and painting he chose Plyoss – a small beautiful town on the Volga. His paintings "The Evening", "Golden Plyoss", reflect his love for na- ture. All his paintings are very emotional, lyrical and realistic.

In the closing years of his life Levitan made several journeys abroad to France, Italy and Germany where he painted a number of landscapes, althoughhis best works of the period were devoted to Russia. He was only 40 when he died in 1900.

Levitan's influence on the painters of lyrical landscapes was great. His feelings for nature, his great love for his native land, his ability to reveal and depict the poetry of the Russian land have won his paintings the love and grati- tude of people.

Vocabulary:

although [`o:lðəu] – хотя

brush – кисть

canvas – холст, полотно

closing years – последние годы (жизни) countryside [`kΛntrisaid] – сельская местность figure [`figə] – зд.: фигура, силуэт

gratitude – благодарность

individual   sort   of   painter   – художник, отличающийся своей индивидуальностью

indifferent – безразличный, равнодушный, холодный

landscape – пейзаж

loneliness [`ləunlines] – одиночество lyrical [`lirikəl] – лирический realistic – реалистический

remote – отдалённый

scenery ['sinəri] – пейзаж

significant [sig`nifikənt] – важный, значительный

to bring out – выявлять, обнаруживать

to develop – развивать, совершенствовать to devote to – посвящать (кому-л., чему-л.) to depict – изображать, рисовать

to express – выражать, отражать

to introduce – вводить, представлять, вносить

to influence – влиять

to reveal – открывать, обнаруживать

to reflect – отражать

to transfer – переносить

to win (won) – завоёвывать

Questions:

1.  What is Levitan famous for?

2.  Levitan is a very individual sort of painter. Can you prove it?

3.  What traditions did Levitan continue and develop?

4.  What place did Levitan choose for his life and painting?

5.  Did the Volga influence his art?

6.  How old was Levitan when he died?

7.  Why do so many people like his pictures?

8.  Who is your favourite Russian painter?