The Mikhailovsky Palace

By the middle of the eighteenth century history painting had been officially established as the leading genre in art, in keeping with the hierarchy of genres common to all academies. Following the example set by European academies, where Russian masters also perfected their art, history canvases in Russia were based primarily on themes from the Bible, mythology and — rarer — pure history. The Russian Museum has a sparkling collection of academic art, stretching from its early days right up to the 1980s. The reason for such a complete collection is perhaps its geographical proximity to the Academy of Arts, as well as the natural prestige the Russian Museum enjoyed as the Imperial museum, always attractive to artists and collectors alike.

Anton Losenko’s (1737–1773) Vladimir and Rogneda (1770) played a special role in the establishment of the Russian history genre. It is based on an episode from Russian history in the tenth century. Prince Vladimir, the christener of Rus and conqueror of Novgorod, wished to take Rogneda, daughter of the Prince of Polotsk, as his wife. Despite her resistance, cunning and power, he had his way. By introducing commoners — Russians and Poles — into the picture, Losenko lends it liveliness, a national flavour and historical authenticity.