“The Russian Black Sea Fleet on Parade”
Today, the great Aivazovsky.
“The Russian Black Sea Fleet on Parade” is an oil on canvas painting by the Russian-Armenian Romantic era artist, Ivan Aivazovsky, from 1849. Aivazovsky is one of the most famous Russian artists in history who is known for his large and vivid seascapes and coastal scenes. His talent at depicting light, be it moonlight, sunlight, diffused light, or reflected light, makes his works even more striking.
In this piece, Aivazovsky captures the grandeur of the Russian navy as a parade of 120-gun ships from the Black Sea Fleet parade past the Russian emperor, Nicholas I, who is watching from the docks on the lower right. Aivazovsky, who himself hailed from Feodosia, a Black Sea port city, watched the maneuvers of the fleet several times between 1845 and 1846.
This painting takes place during the latter years of Russian control over the Black Sea. All of the ships would end up being sunk or scuttled during the Crimean War of 1853 to 1856. This war would mark the ending of the era of primacy of warships used in conflicts.
The Black Sea Fleet was one of the most powerful military forces in Russia at the time. This was in great part due to the commandeering of Admiral Lazarev, who was commander of the Black Sea Fleet between 1834 and 1851. The Russian navy was founded by Prince Potemkin in 1783 and had operated within both the Black Sea and the Mediterranean since the end of the eighteenth century.
“The Russian Black Sea Fleet on Parade” is currently on display at the Central Naval Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
For more on Ivan Aivazovsky, please visit his short biography here.
You can find more artists to learn about here.
