West-European paintings

The collection of West-European paintings at the State Museum of Fine Arts of Turkmenistan includes works by Italian, Dutch, Flemish, French, German and English masters. The most valuable are the sections of Italian and Dutch paintings.

“Repenting Magdalen” by Djampetrino

In the “Repenting Magdalen” Djampetrino makes use only of the great master’s surface methods and is unable to archive the leonardesque depth of penetration into the human soul. The topic of the repenting Magdalen with all its psychological complexity is used here only to extol women’s beauty. Djampetrino’s Magdalen is far from repenting. She is a coquettish beauty fully aware of her womanly charms.

“Woman with Two Children” of an unknown painter

The trend towards “mannerism” reflected the crisis in the Renaissance culture that began following foreign invasions and the start of feudal reaction. That trend carried features of pessimism and sensitive expression of emotion. The formal features characterizing “mannerism” – spatial incongruity and excessive elongation of the human figures, rhythmic instability of composition are seen in a small picture by an unknown painter “Woman with Two Children” (second half of 16 c.).

“Portrait of the Woman” by an unknown master

Venice longer than any other Italian city retained and reflected the renascence philosophy in its paintings. The gold coloring, ingenious expression of feelings is a distinctive sign of the Venetian school. “Portrait of the Woman” by an unknown master of the 16th century gives us an idea of the development of intimate-chamber portrait painting in Venice.

“Way of the Cross” by an unknown Venetian master

In the second half of the 16th century there was a rising feeling of a dramatic beginning in the joie de vivre-optimistic art of Venice. In the picture “Way of the Cross” (end of 16 c.) by an unknown Venetian master, Christ is portrayed with the cross on which He was crucified. Among the hardened public surrounding Jesus, only Veronica shows any compassion for the Saviour’s sufferings. Legend has it, that on the towel she gave Him to wipe His face there remained His indelible image. The abrupt movements of the guards, the composition which is built diagonally, the fragmentary slicing of the figures are all features of the new style-baroque.

“Magdelen” by Mattia Preti

The history of European realistic painting of the 17th century is opened by the great innovator Caravaggio (1573-1610). He introduces on the canvas a democratic type, placing enlarged figures in the foreground, sense perception at the bottom and dramatic contrasts of color. Mattia Preti was one of Caravaggio’s followers. His “Magdelen” is not of this world. Her garb of bast – symbol of the body’s humbleness, and the skull – symbol of her short-lived and perishable body are Mary Magdelen’s traditional attributes.

“Madonna” by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (1696-1770) belongs to the universally talented painters. His small in size but light in coloring “Madonna” is executed in a free and easy style.

“The Return of the Civilizers” by Italian painter Francesco Bruneri

The works by Italian painter Francesco Bruneri who lived at the turn of the 20th century on topics taken from the life of the clergy were exhibited at the salon of the French Artists Society. His genre paintings are rich in details, and noted for the finely decorated interiors in the rococo style. The museum has in its collection his painting “The Return of the Civilizers”.

The 17th century was an important stage in the history of the European states. It was the period of a strong offensive against feudalism, the period of the formation of nations, the organization of national schools in art. In Holland, following the triumphant coming to power of the bourgeoisie, the consumers became the bourgeois. Paintings were in great demand. Dutch easel paintings of the 17th century were small in size, noted for their chamber nature and consequently became known as “the small Dutch”. There was occurred specialization of genres: landscape, portrait and still life painting.

“Landscape” by the great landscape painter Jan van Goyen

The great landscape painter Jan van Goyen (1596-1656) was a master of realistic color landscape painting. In his works he made use of the light and air perspective – a discovery of Dutch painting (“Landscape”).

“A Still Life with Fruit” by an unknown painter

Still life painting was widespread. The museum has in its collection “A Still Life with Fruit” by an unknown painter. It relates to the “desserts” type.

“Worship of the Shepherds” by Jacob Jordans

The national Flemish school of painting came into being in the 17th century. A democratic trend and ingenuousness in self expression distinguish the works of its representative Jacob Jordans, assistant and follower of Rubens, founder of the school. Among Jordan’s earliest works in his painting “Worship of the Shepherds”. The topic is analogical to Ruben’s school.

A still life by an unknown painter represents German painting of the 17th century.

“Assumption of the Virgin Mary” by an unknown German painter

An altar icon with the rare iconographic topic “Assumption of the Virgin Mary” (1521) by an unknown German painter is one of the most precious items in the collection of the museum. The icon was badly damaged during the 1948 earthquake in Ashkhabad and was restored by P.I.Baranov at the All-Union artistic and scientific restoring centre named after I. Grabar.

“The Violinist” by Victor Joseph Shave

In the French art of the first half of the 19th century, among the painters of official romantism working in the “retro” style was Victor Joseph Shave (1822-1906) (“The Violinist”). He painted mostly scenes from the everyday life of French society of the 18th century.

Source: booklet "West-European Paintings"
(Author: N.Yu. Shabunts)
Translated from Russian by the booklet "West-European Paintings"