Roses, Pyotr I. Petrovichev
Petr Petrovichev graduated from the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, where his teachers were Isaac Levitan and Apollinary Vasnetsov. A member of the Union of Russian Artists and associated with the association “The World of Art”, he embodies the characteristic features of the Silver Age in his works - its refinement as well as its profound symbolism and tragic perception of the world.
“Roses” is a still-life with a bouquet of flowers in a porcelain vase. In terms of the level of craftsmanship and painting style this work by Petrovichev is comparable with the floral compositions of Auguste Renoir. The brushwork is characterized by its use of thick, vibrant strokes applied with a lightness of touch. However, the apparent plainness of the picture conceals a profound meaning associated with the European tradition of “Vanitas Vanitatum” (“Vanity of vanities”) still-lives, stressing the perishable nature of everything and the transience of life. In this case, the conceptual message is hidden in the contrast of the fragrant blossoms with the wilted and withering flowers, with the petals which have fallen off onto the dark tablecloth.
