Born in Siberia and faced hardship early on
Vasily Ivanovich Surikov was born in the city of Krasnoyarsk into the family of a collegiate registrar, Ivan Vasilyevich Surikov. When Vasily was eight, his father was transferred to Sukhoy Buzim. There the boy completed two grades of the parish school at the All Saints Church and began studying at the district school. When Surikov was eleven, his father died of tuberculosis. The family was left without money, Vasily could not continue his education at the gymnasium and after finishing the district school he got a job as a clerk in the provincial administration.
Received support from a wealthy patron
Surikov's first teacher was the drawing teacher of the Krasnoyarsk district school — Nikolai Vasilievich Grebnyov. While working in the provincial administration, Surikov's drawings were seen by the Yenisei governor P. N. Zamyatnin. The governor found a patron — P. I. Kuznetsov, a Krasnoyarsk gold mining entrepreneur, who paid for Surikov's studies at the Academy of Arts.
Entered the Academy of Arts on his second attempt
In 1869 the future artist arrived in Saint Petersburg. Surikov was unable to enter the Academy of Arts on his first try, so he spent a year studying at the St. Petersburg drawing school of the Society for the Encouragement of Artists. In 1869 he was able to enter the Academy as an auditor, and a year later he was admitted to Pavel Chistyakov's class.
Had the nickname 'The Composer'
During his studies Surikov received four silver medals and several cash prizes for his works. The artist studied with enthusiasm and in 1875 graduated from the Academy with a gold medal. Because he paid great attention to composition, Surikov acquired the nickname 'The Composer'.
Moved to Moscow
After graduating from the Academy, in 1877 the artist moved to Moscow. It was here that he became an outstanding master of historical painting and was able to fulfill his long‑standing dream — to paint a picture about Peter I, known as 'The Morning of the Streltsy Execution'. Surikov also painted four frescoes on the themes of the Ecumenical Councils for the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, for which he was later awarded the Order of St. Anna, 3rd class. Unfortunately, the frescoes did not survive: in 1931 the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour was demolished to the ground.
Studied history thoroughly
Vasily Surikov's artistic approach was based not only on scrupulous attention to composition, but also on the historical accuracy of the everyday life and people he depicted. The artist carefully studied old drawings, objects, and clothing, read history books and made many sketches. Thanks to this approach, Surikov's paintings reflect important events of the past and the people who took part in them as realistically as possible.
Was passionate about music
Vasily Surikov was an admirer of opera; music had a great influence on his work. The artist was friends with the well‑known Moscow guitarist Fyodor Fyodorovich Peletsky, from whom he took performance lessons and with whom he often played pieces arranged for two guitars.
Was a devoted family man and father of two daughters
In 1878 Surikov married Elizaveta Augustovna Shara, with whom he had daughters Olga and Elena. The artist often painted his children. Works such as 'Portrait of O. V. Surikova in Childhood' (1988) and 'Portrait of Olga Vasilievna Surikova, the Artist's Daughter' (1883–1884) are known. Surikov's great‑grandchildren through his daughter Olga include the well‑known theater and film directors Nikita Sergeevich Mikhalkov and Andrei Sergeevich Konchalovsky.
Pavel Tretyakov highly valued Surikov's work
The famous patron readily bought the master's canvases. Thanks to the sale of the painting 'Menshikov in Berezov', the artist was able to travel to Europe and become acquainted with the exhibitions of famous museums. He visited Italy, France, Germany and Austria, and studied the collection of the Dresden Gallery and the holdings of the Louvre. The paintings 'The Morning of the Streltsy Execution', 'Menshikov in Berezov', and 'Boyarynya Morozova' are part of the permanent exhibition of the State Tretyakov Gallery.
Lived to be 68
In the last years of his life Vasily Surikov continued to work actively and took part in the opening of a drawing school in his native Krasnoyarsk. The artist's last work was the painting 'The Annunciation'. In 1916 Surikov died of ischemic heart disease and was buried next to his wife in Vagankovo Cemetery.
