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At
the turn of the 19th century, the Armenian merchant
Konstantin (Gevork) Aivazovsky moved to Theodosia from
Poland. The Armenian church of the city recorded on July
17, 1817, the birth of "Hovhannes, son of Gevork
Ayvazian" in the register of births and baptisms.
His father operated a small store in Theodosia and his
mother was employed in the lace and embroidery industry.
Both worked diligently in order to support their five
children.
The
Governor of Theodosia recognized the talent of young
Hovhannes and helped him enter high school in Simferopol
and in
1833 St
. Petersburg Academy of Art where he studied under M.
Vorobyov, a renowned Russian landscape painter and the
French marine painter F. Tanner, and where he graduated
with honours at 20 years of age. He was sent to study in
Italy and returned a recognised master. Delacroix spoke
of him with great respect and Turner described him as a
genius. Always true to his motto, "For me, to live
means to work," Aivazovski created around 6,000
paintings. His house in his native town was turned into
a museum dedicated to his memory even during his
lifetime.
One
of the greatest seascape painters of his time,
Aivazovsky conveyed the movement of the waves, the
transparent water, the dialogue between sea and sky with
with virtuoso skill and tangible verisimilitude. The
artist also often turned to themes from Armenian and
Russian history. The originality of Aivazovsky's work is
largely determined by his national character and
temperament. Armenian culture has an ancient tradition
of the creative value of light, and the knowledge of
light was one of the most important elements in his art,
giving the artist's canvases a dreamy and emotional
feel.
Following
the massacres of the Armenians in Turkey, many refugees
came to Theodosia, where Aivazovsky provided shelter and
food, and helped families relocate. So incensed was he
with the treatment of the Armenians in Turkey that he
painted a series of canvases condemning the massacres,
which were exhibted in Moscow. He also renounced the
medals which has been presented to him by the Sultan.
His own emotional involvement with the massacres
produced the paintings, The Armenian Massacres of
Trevizond, Shiploaded Armenians, and Armenians Thrown
into the Sea Alive.
In
accordance with his wishes, Aivazovsky was buried in the
courtyard of the St. Sarkis Armenian Church in
Theodosia. The inscription on his tombstone, in Armenian
and Russian reads: "He was born a mortal, left an
immortal legacy".
Most
of this biography was quoted from Aivazovsky in America,
edited by Iris Papazian and Andrew Shahinian.
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