Fine Art Tuesday

The New Baby

Kirill Vikentevich Lemokh (1841-1910) was a Russian painter who left the Academy as a "Second Grade" painter because he favored the Realism school of painting over the politically dominant Romantic school. Even then, politics could ruin a promising career.

Lemokh painted this family several times over the course of his career. The room appears to be the corner of a barn based on the thick, plank floor and the rough walls. Tools hang on the wall. The canopy-type bed was commonly used to conserve body heat. Likely, the entire family slept in the same bed.

It is a testament to how soundly children sleep (or perhaps to how stealthy a married couple can be intimate) that there are six children...although two of them appear to be twins.

Well into his career, the Academy upgraded Lemokh to a "First Grade" painter. Lemokh's promotion may have been influenced by the fact that Lemokh tutored the Czar's children in art. Ahh! Politics.

If you enjoy excellent, Russian art then you will be well served to visit The Glory of Russian Painting blog.