Stanislav Zhukovsky was a Polish-Russian Impressionist painter. The main motifs of his works were old country parks, interiors with open windows and doors in the park. His paintings were characterized by delicate lyricism and elegiac melancholy. He took part in exhibitions of the World of Art group.
Background
Stanislav Zhukovsky was born on May 13, 1875 in Yendrikhovtsy village (at that time Russian Empire) into the family of an aristocrat Yulian Zhukovsky and Maria from a noble Polish Wierzbicki family. His mother received very good home education, studied in Paris. She was very sensitive and soft-hearted person, spoke several foreign languages and played the piano. Stanislav was the youngest of the 3 children. Mother taught them music, languages, painting. Father loved only the eldest son Boleslav and took little care about the others. Yulian Zhukovsky was deprived of his property and rights of nobility for his involvement in the Polish Revolt of 1863. More in-depth studies of the reasons revealed that the reasons were economical rather than political. Yulian Zhukovsky most likely did not take part in the revolt, but lost his entail property as a result of economic sanctions inflicted on the revolt sympathizers. As a result Yulian Zhukovsky could not keep the family estate in property and became its tenant, as well as most of other representatives of the Belarusian-Polish nobles. The revolt defeat, exile of his father’s brothers, the loss of his patrimonial estate, the family’s troublesome financial situation and vanished hopes had a substantial impact on the psychoemotional perception of the reality by the artist. Stanislav spent his childhood in his father’s family estate Staraya Volya.
Education
Stanislav Zhukovsky received primary education at Warsaw classical gymnasium. Later he studied at Bialystok college, where he acquired his first drawing skills under the guidance of S. Yuzhanin. Contrary to the will of his father Stanislav Zhukovsky left for Moscow to study painting. In 1892 he entered Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture as a noncredit student, studied under V. D. Polenov, I. I. Levitan, S. A. Korovin, N. A. Kasatkin, and L O. Pasternak. In order to pay for his studies he had to paint landscapes for sale. In 1897, he successfully passed the exams and entered Moscow School of Painting and became its student.
Career
Zhukovsky presented 13 pictures at the XVI student exhibition already after a year of his university studies and was very successful. He returned home, worked at his father’s estate Staraya Volya, on the banks of the Neman river, in the Białowieża Forest. At this time, he drew such paintings as "Neman", "Forest. Ferns. West” (both in 1895). In 1896–1897, Zhukovsky was awarded two small silver medals; in 1901 for his painting Moonlight Night he was awarded big silver medal and was conferred the title of class painter. In 1897, he became student of Moscow School of Painting. In 1898, he wrote a landmark in many ways painting "Spring Water", which was successfully exhibited at the XXVII exhibition of Wanderers. It was immediately acquired by the Russian Museum of Emperor Alexander III.
At that period Zhukovsky travelled a lot around Russia. In 1895, 1901, 1916 he went to Grodno province, in 1900–1901 visited Ukraine, in 1903 — Yalta; he worked a lot near Moscow. Summer months of 1899–1919 Zhukovsky spent in Tver and Orlov provinces. Since 1895 (until 1901) he regularly participated in exhibitions of Moscow Society of Art Lovers, also in exhibitions of the Society of Travelling Art Exhibitions (until 1918), since 1903 he was a member of this society. In 1902–1903 Zhukovsky exposed his works at the exhibitions of the group Mir Iskusstva (“World of Art”). In 1903 he joined the Union of Russian Artists, participated in exhibitions of the Union until 1923. Zhukovsky’s landscapes immediately brought him fame; they were in popular demand among collectors. First buyers of his paintings were P. M. Tretyakov and N. P. Ryabushinsky.
In 1907, Zhukovsky was conferred the title of academician. In the same year he organized a two-year art school in Moscow, where he taught until the October Revolution in 1917. Among his students there were V. V. Mayakovsky, I. I. Nivinsky and others. In 1909, for his painting Dam he won the A. I. Kuindzhi second prize. In 1909 and 1913, Zhukovsky was awarded medals at the International Art Exhibition in Munich. In 1912 he travelled around Europe, visited Switzerland, Germany, France and Italy.
In February 1917, Zhukovsky joined the association Izograf, which declared political neutrality. After the October Revolution he was in the Commission for Protection of works of art and antiquities of Moscow Soviet of People’s Deputies (Mossovet) and in the College of artists under the State Tretyakov Gallery. On the instructions of the Plastic Arts Department, Zhukovsky inspected private art collections in Moscow and Moscow regions.
In 1919, Zhukovsky moved to Vyatka. At the same time, he worked as a scene-designer and producer at a local theatre. In 1920, the first personal exhibition of the artist was held in Vyatka. In 1921, he returned to Moscow. In the same year the second exhibition of Zhukovsky’s works was held at Bolshaya Dmitrovka in Moscow. In 1922, works of the artist were sent to the First Russian Art Exhibition in the Van Diemen Gallery in Berlin.
In 1923, Zhukovsky immigrated to Poland, lived in Warsaw and Krakow. He painted landscapes of Polesse, Belovezha Forest and Svisloch Forest, interiors of palaces and country estates. From 1925 till 1939, he participated in exhibitions of Warsaw Society for the Encouragement of Arts; in 1923 he was awarded gold medal, and was repeatedly rewarded with honorary diplomas and prizes. Since 1923, he was a member of the art association Zakhenta, since mid 1920s - Krakow Society of Friends of Fine Arts Pro Arte. In 1924-1925, Zhukovsky’s works were exposed at the Travelling Exhibition of Russian Art in the USA and Canada, in 1929 - in Copenhagen.
Personal exhibitions of the artist were held in 1925 at Paris gallery Charpentier; in 1929, 1931, 1934, 1935, 1937, and 1939 - in Warsaw, in 1929 - in Kharkov.
In early works he followed Levitan’s art and realist traditions, which were close to masters of the Society of Travelling Art Exhibitions. In 1910s Zhukovsky developed his own style, mainly based on careful study of impressionists’ experience. He painted large landscapes from nature resorting to strokes of pure color, preferring bright saturated colors; paid a great attention to lighting effects; it allowed him to obtain the impression of freshness and immediacy of perception. The main motifs of his works were old country parks, interiors with open windows and doors in the park. His paintings were characterized by delicate lyricism and elegiac melancholy.
Stanislav Zhukovsky tragically died in the Prushkov concentration camp, where he was taken after the suppression of Warsaw uprising. He was buried in a common grave.
In February 1917 Zhukovsky joined the association Izograf, which declared political neutrality. After the October Revolution he was in the Commission for Protection of works of art and antiquities of Moscow Soviet of People’s Deputies (Mossovet) and in the College of artists under the State Tretyakov Gallery. On the instructions of the Plastic Arts Department, Zhukovsky inspected private art collections in Moscow and Moscow regions.
During World War II, Zhukovsky supported Warsaw Uprising. He was arrested by the Nazis and died in the Prushkov concentration camp.
Membership
Since 1895 (until 1901) Zhukovsky regularly participated in exhibitions of Moscow Society of Art Lovers, also in exhibitions of the Society of Travelling Art Exhibitions (until 1918), since 1903 he was a member of this society. In 1902–1903 Zhukovsky exposed his works at the exhibitions of the group Mir Iskusstva (“World of Art”). In 1903 he joined the Union of Russian Artists, participated in exhibitions of the Union until 1923. In February 1917, Zhukovsky joined the association Izograf, which declared political neutrality. Since 1923 he was a member of the art association Zakhenta, since mid 1920s — Cracow Society of Friends of Fine Arts Pro Arte.
Moscow Society of Art Lovers
,
Russia
1895 - 1901
Mir Iskusstva (“World of Art”)
,
Russia
1902 - 1903
Society of Travelling Art Exhibitions
,
Russia
1903 - 1918
The Union of Russian Artists
,
Russia
1903 - 1923
Zakhenta
,
Poland
1923
Society of Friends of Fine Arts Pro Arte
,
Poland
1920
Izograf
1917
Connections
In 1897, Zhukovsky married his university friend Alexandra Ignat’eva. After their divorce, actual artist's wife became his student Sophia Kvasnetskaya. They got officially married after the revolution in 1917, but the relationship had already begun in 1916.