Vasily Vasilievich Vereshchagin
(1842—1904)
Vasily Vereshchagin is an original personality in Russian art. His life was crowded with memorable events and heroic episodes.
The artist travelled a great deal in the Caucasus, the Crimea, Central Asia and visited many Russian and European cities, journeyed to India twice, was in America, Japan, Syria, Palestine, the Philippines and Cuba.
He participated in the Russo- Turkish War of 1877—1878, in which he was wounded. Vereshchagin met his death in the explosion on the battleship “Petropavlovsk” during the Russo-Japanese War.
He devoted his talent, in the main, to painting battle scenes. The canvases he exhibited so successfully in Russia and in many European and American cities were indictments of wars of aggression. His impressions of the Orient and, in particular, of India, served as rich material for many of his paintings.
Vocabulary
the Caucasus — Кавказ
the Crimea — Крым
Central Asia — Центральная Азия
to journey — совершать поездку, путешествовать
Japan — Япония
Syria — Сирия
Palestine — ист. Палестина
the Philippines — Филиппины
Cuba — Куба
battle scenes — батальные сцены
indictments of wars of aggression — обвинение агрессивных войн
the Orient — Восток, восточные страны
