Could have become a priest
Viktor Vasnetsov's father, Mikhail Vasilievich Vasnetsov, was a hereditary Orthodox priest. Viktor almost followed in his father's footsteps. The Vasnetsov family lived in poverty, and Viktor enrolled in the Vyatka Religious School and then the Vyatka Theological Seminary, where, as the son of a priest, he had the right to study for free. However, with his father's blessing he later left the seminary and went to study in Saint Petersburg.
Was a pupil of Kramskoi
Vasnetsov's first painting teacher was one of the best artists of the realist school — Ivan Kramskoi. At the School of the Society for the Encouragement of Artists, Vasnetsov studied for only a year — from 1867 to 1868 — and then continued his education at the Imperial Academy of Arts.
Participated in exhibitions from his student years
The talent of the young artist was highly appreciated even during his studies — Vasnetsov repeatedly took part in exhibitions of the Imperial Academy. During his studies he twice received small silver medals from the Academy and was awarded the Large Silver Medal for the painting "Christ and Pilate before the People".
Was a realist but moved into the genre of folkloric epic
Vasnetsov's work can be divided into two stages. At the beginning of his career he worked in the socio-historical genre and created canvases about the life and everyday life of ordinary people. At the end of the 19th century the artist completely switched to a folkloric style, whose thematic basis became Russian fairy tales and bylinas. The first painting created in the genre of folkloric epic was the canvas "After Igor Svyatoslavich's Battle with the Polovtsians."
Vasnetsov's younger brother was also a painter
The artist's younger brother, Apollinary, also became a painter. The Vasnetsov brothers were united by a love of Russian folklore, but the themes of their works differed. Apollinary became a master of historical painting and carefully recreated the appearance of ancient Moscow in his works.
Worked in stage design and mural painting, created architectural sketches
Vasnetsov's talent was versatile and multifaceted. He created costume and set designs for Rimsky-Korsakov's opera "The Snow Maiden," for Dargomyzhsky's opera "Rusalka," and for Shpazhensky's drama "The Enchantress." He produced architectural sketches for the main façade of the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, for the Mamontov estate, for the Tsvetkov mansion and for his own house. Vasnetsov also worked on church frescoes and believed that decorating a church was a sacred and fruitful task for a Russian artist.
Decorated the State Historical Museum in Moscow with murals
One of Vasnetsov's most famous wall paintings is the pictorial frieze "The Stone Age," which encircles the second hall of the State Historical Museum on Red Square. The frieze illustrates the life of Stone Age people and decorates the hall dedicated to that historical era.
Considered the painting of St. Vladimir's Cathedral in Kyiv his life's main work
Vasnetsov worked on the decoration of St. Vladimir's Cathedral for a decade. During the work the master produced 400 sketches, 15 compositions and 30 full-length figures of saints. Vasnetsov drew on knowledge of icon painting and church architecture acquired during his seminary education and studied monuments of early Italian Christianity.
Lived in a happy marriage for 49 years
Vasnetsov's wife, Alexandra, was the daughter of the director of the Kosino paper mill and one of the first female doctors in the Russian Empire. The marriage produced five children — four sons: Boris, Alexei, Mikhail, Vladimir, and a daughter, Tatiana, who followed in her father's footsteps and later graduated from the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture.
Received lifelong nobility and the French Legion of Honour
For his achievements in painting and the development of Russian art, Vasnetsov and his descendants were granted lifelong nobility, and France awarded the artist the country's highest honor — the Legion of Honour.
