Ivan Khrutsky – a virtuoso of cheerful still life and a talented portraitist

Ivan Trofimovich Khrutsky (born January 27, 1810 – died January 13, 1885) – an outstanding Belarusian and Russian artist of the 19th century. The artist’s paintings adorned the most luxurious capital houses. He is rightfully considered the pioneer of Russian still life. His work is characterized by close attention to detail, typical of the Venetian school. At the same time, the master’s works are imbued with optimism, they feel contentment with life. There are many gaps in the biography of Ivan Khrutsky: one can only hope that researchers will fill them in over time.

Biography of Ivan Trofimovich Khrutsky

Ivan Khrutsky was born on January 27 (February 8), 1810, in the trading town of Ulla in the Vitebsk province. As the eldest son, he was obliged to follow in the footsteps of his father, a Uniate priest. In 1820, the boy was sent to study at the Polotsk Lyceum of the Catholic Order of Piarists. He received an excellent education, but never made a career as a priest.

At the age of 17, the young man went to St. Petersburg and worked for two years as an apprentice to the English portrait artist George Dawe. At the same time, he attended classes at the Imperial Academy of Arts as a free listener and copied masterpieces of the Renaissance masters in the Hermitage. In 1830, the aspiring artist was accepted into the Academy. Ivan Trofimovich studied the basics of painting in the class of Alexander Grigorievich Varneka, among his teachers were the famous academicians Karl Pavlovich Bryullov and Fyodor Antonovich Bruni, landscape painter Maxim Nikiforovich Vorobyov.

Ivan Trofimovich graduated from the educational institution in 1836, and in 1837 Emperor Nicholas I himself presented the artist with a watch on a gold chain, encouraging him “to further work.” The public adored the paintings of Ivan Khrutsky: colorful, lively, they gave rise to a sense of celebration in the souls of viewers. He seriously took up still lifes and confidently occupied a virtually empty creative niche. At that time, the historical genre was at the peak of popularity, and landscapes, still lifes and even portraits were considered “minor” genres – their authors could not claim great fame.

Perhaps our hero was not very ambitious, but he was clearly not mistaken in his true calling. Orders poured in from all sides, the artist often recreated his works over and over again – after all, everyone wanted to have exactly the same painting that they saw in someone else’s work. As many as eight versions of “Still Life with Binoculars” have survived to this day!

Borrowing motifs from Dutch artists of the 17th century, the artist managed to radically change the general mood of the works, giving them a major sound. Overturned cups, overripe fruits, extinguished candles – everything that symbolizes the frailty of life for the Dutch, in Khrutsky’s works looks like a hymn to the generosity of nature and the joy of life. His paintings are definitely “for health” and not “for the repose of the soul”, and the glasses are always half full.

Portraits were no less popular, often complemented by a beautiful vase of flowers or a basket of fruit. The use of contrasting lighting gave them special expressiveness. Many of his works clearly show the features of the Biedermeier style with its characteristic careful drawing of interior and everyday details.

For his outstanding achievements, Ivan Khrutsky was awarded the title of academician in 1839. That same year, his father died, and Ivan Trofimovich left the capital, his loyal admirers, and lucrative orders and returned to his homeland to support his orphaned family. In 1844, he bought an estate near Polotsk and built a house there according to his own sketch. In 1845, the artist got married.

In 1846, Joseph Semashko, the archbishop, invited him to work in Vilnius. His favorite work ceased to bring pleasure: the customer peremptorily interfered in everything. The artist painted portraits of Semashko’s closest associates, icons, and made sketches of Vilnius and its environs. Unfortunately, very few works from that period have survived.

In 1855, Khrutsky left his annoying patron and returned home. He led a modest, secluded life, worked a little on portraits and completely abandoned still lifes… Ivan Khrutsky’s last painting was “Self-Portrait” (1884). The artist died on January 13, 1885, his body rests in the family tomb on the territory of the Zakharychi estate. Streets in the village of Ulla and in the city of Polotsk are named after Ivan Khrutsky. A school in Novopolotsk bears his name, and a monument to the artist was unveiled there on June 20, 2012. The artist’s works are widely used in philately.