Description of the painting by Mikhail Vrubel “Portrait of Zabela-Vrubel”

Description of the painting by Mikhail Vrubel Portrait of Zabela Vrubel

The portrait from life was written in 1898. When writing a masterpiece used oil paints. The spouse is dressed in a magnificent dress decorated with a yellow wide belt, the head is decorated with a muslin cap. Nadezhda Ivanovna is holding lorgnette in her hands.

It is safe to say that before us is the most harmonious work of the greatest Russian artist. Vrubel used light light shades in order to convey the state of mind of his wife.

When writing a portrait of the artist turned to the pictorial technique of depicting objects in natural light and in natural conditions. If we carefully look at the clothes of a woman, then we will notice that Vrubel remained faithful to the “crystalline” form, which is distinguished by transparency, airiness and weightlessness. The whole image of Zabela-Vrubel is a large cluster of crystals. Lilac and light green shades remind of violets and pansies, immersed in lush greenery, the heroine is full of charm and tranquility.

To this day owes a lot of photographic images of his wife Vrubel. In one photo, Zabela plays the role of Snow Maiden, her hair is loose, and her expression exactly repeats what is depicted in the portrait. Apparently, it was this picture that inspired the artist’s husband.

If we compare the photos of Nadezhda Ivanovna with Vrubel’s portraits, then we notice that the painter exaggerated the shortcomings of his companion. In life, Zabela-Vrubel had a less elongated face. The artist made his chin heavier, changed the shape of his eyes, transformed other facial features. In the pictures the singer appears young, pretty and simple, and on the canvases of her husband – mysterious and even demonic.


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Description of the painting by Mikhail Vrubel “Portrait of Zabela-Vrubel”