Mikhail Alexandrovich Vrubel was a Russian painter, sculptor, and master of decorative and applied arts. Magnificent craftsmanship, a tragic nature, a rebellious spirit, and a unique talent are revealed in his works, opening up the artist's rich inner world.
At the commission of Savva Morozov, Vrubel created illustrations for M. Lermontov's poem 'The Demon'. This series became a benchmark of the Art Nouveau style at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries.
The emotional strain while working on the paintings led to a mental disorder, and the artist was hospitalized in a hospital in the capital. His work astonishes by its combination of mysticism and passion, which both attracted and frightened his contemporaries. And his attending physician said: "One often hears that Vrubel's art is sick art. I studied Vrubel for a long time and carefully, and I believe that his art is not only entirely normal, but so mighty and solid that even a terrible illness could not destroy it. Art was at the foundation, in the very essence of his psychic personality."
The 'Demonic' series of Mikhail Vrubel's canvases includes the following works:
These are the ones we will examine today:
'The Seated Demon' is a painting by Mikhail Alexandrovich Vrubel and is one of the artist's central works. This masterpiece was painted as an illustration for M. Lermontov's 'The Demon' and is part of the artist's 'demonic' cycle. The canvas depicts a half-naked figure that seems not to fit within the space of the canvas — it is so vast; the emphasized strong body with massive muscles is perceived in contrast with the relaxed face, which betrays alienation. Later we will see the reverse contrast in the painting 'The Demon Vanquished'.
'The Flying Demon' depicts only the schematic outlines of the hero. The demon's body in motion and the billowing black cloak, the mountains, the snow-capped peaks and the gray rocky ledges and cliffs — everything on this canvas is painted vividly, energetically, and rather schematically. The color scheme of the painting creates an atmosphere of anxiety and foreboding. The composition is arranged so that the Demon seems to fly, trapped between the sky and the mountains, through a narrow space, severely limited in his movement and the spread of his wings. The gray mountain landscape and the dark figure of the demon personify opposition to and defiance of accepted canons and beliefs. The dominant tone of the composition is freedom.
The painting 'The Demon Vanquished' depicts a figure lying on the rocks. The angel's head is rendered darker than the torso. The broken, weak body with an unhealthy tint to the skin is perceived as painful. In contrast to the weakened body is the Demon's gaze, reflecting anger and defiance; his face has a militant expression and the tension of an unconquered spirit. In the background a symbolic sunset lights the mountains with a pink glow, while black shadows cover the corners of the painting, foreshadowing the coming of night. With great expressiveness, 'The Demon Vanquished' conveys the tragedy of the individual, the shattering of expectations, tragic fate and loneliness, and the Demon embodies a painful parting with hope and pride. While working on the painting the artist was hospitalized in a psychiatric clinic, where he spent one and a half years.
'The Demon Vanquished' was the last work of Mikhail Vrubel's 'demonic' series.
None of the works from this series were ever completed.
