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Julius
Klever

Russia • 1850−1924
Julius Klever encyclopedias disparagingly styled artist salon-academic sense. Meanwhile, his landscapes worth a look at and agree but good! He wrote beautifully the sunlight, his paintings are imbued with the light of the setting sun, his snow trust implicitly and admire. In addition to artistic talent Juli Clover had such a rare and joyous quality as the ability to take their place – anywhere, anytime, even in the era of art and social cataclysms. The painters followed the new artistic principles, society is embedded in a new social situation. And Julius Klever continued to write his filled with light scenery. And they were accepted, bought and wanted, that's amazing.

Relationship with the Academy of arts: "it's complicated"

Julius Klever was born in Tartu Estonia, which at that time was called Dorpat. His father was a chemist, taught at the University. The fascination of a boy painting in the family received favorably, but the Academy of arts was sent to the Department of architecture, finding it more promising. However, after a year, the boy was transferred to the painting class. Studied successfully, but with teachers Socrates By Vorobevymand Mikhail Klodthe had a complete mismatch, and the Imperial Academy, he soon left on their own. However, there is a version that in 1870 he was simply expelled. If you think that this relationship Clover with the Holy of holies of Russian painters is over, you are mistaken.

Clover has aimed to conquer the Imperial society for the encouragement of arts, deciding that on their own to find their way. And it went well. The following year his painting was acquired by Paul Stroganov, an influential member of the community. A year later, Clover was awarded the attention of Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna, by the way, who headed the Academy of arts.

The first solo exhibition by Juli Clover managed to organize 24 years of age. Not to say that at that time it was commonplace. Such masters as Aivazovskyallowed himself to solo exhibitions, but a beginner artist, or put out of the Academy, or left her? Nonsense! However, the exhibition on the stands of the St. Petersburg Society for the encouragement of fine arts was a huge success, which was only the beginning in a series of successes. So, a second exhibition, the artist staged two years later by the introduction of 40 new jobs. Not without Imperial attention, one of his paintings attracted to Alexander II. And here again manifested itself the Academy of fine arts. Not graduated from an academic course for the painter "Kind of running the Park in Marienburg" ("the Old Park")he received the title of academician. The next step was the title of Professor and ironically – dedicated Academy apartment and workshop, formerly owned by his teacher Socrates Vorobyov.

A resounding success and "factory" Julius Klever

Moved he was already a family man. His father-in-law, head of the Palace pharmacy Carl Feraud, an educated man, had a weakness for theater, painting, music, and daughters were brought up accordingly. At Julia Clover was born four children, three of whom became artists. The most famous full namesake of his father.

In those years, was part of the Society of Peredvizhniki. Clover never anywhere near that direction. He wrote mostly landscapes, with a special "liverovsky" tone. As a rule, it is the nature of the Baltic region, mainly winter or autumn, certainly the sun's rays, sunlight, sunset often. Clover loved, valued, admired. Exhibitions were held throughout Russia and in many European countries. And his paintings bought, which is not always follows from the preceding paragraphs. The members of the Royal family and collector Pavel Tretyakovthought it necessary to have it work, and what to speak about simple (but very wealthy) mortals. No pictures of the Clover in the house was in bad taste.

The artist earned easily and a lot (average of 25 thousand per year, which was a very substantial amount), spending too easy. He was what they call "a man of wide soul". Ability to accumulation and increase of wealth for him were not found. Once the money was out (and they ended up often), it was easier to write and sell a new picture than to save. Juli Clover differed carelessness, cheerfulness and outgoing personality. Many of his students gratefully remembered that Clover could buy the student all available at the time the sketches are just to help permanently settled broke student, not putting in an awkward position.

The popularity forced him to organize his workshop "the beautiful factory", about which the critics a lot of buzz. Since the orders were many, miss them do not like, and to realize all the most proved to be physically impossible, the so-called "cleverly" – paintings created in his Studio. It is known that Clover used the services of helpers when writing figures of people and horses. It has also happened that a "journeyman" wrote podmalevka which Juli Clover only held the brush. By the way, it is wrong to assume that it is too out of the ordinary phenomenon. Such a thing did not disdain even Rubens in his time (see the second story in this collection).

Thanks to its workshop Juli Clover could do not only easel paintings. For example, in the late 1880-ies he developed the Park and designed the mansion of the benefactor, Alexander Kuznetsova in foros (Crimea). The names of the artists "moonlighting" at Clover. In his workshop definitely worked Pysemskyy, Riznichenko, Obolensky. In 1900-ies it was done. "Now I'm on a gun shot do not admit anyone to his paintings"– he argued. This decision was preceded by some trouble.

Slippery history

Trouble descended suddenly and had a bad taste. Clover became embroiled in a financial Scam: no, not personally participated, was only involved as a witness in the case of major embezzlement related to gambling debts of his friend, the conference Secretary of the Academy of fine arts Peter Isaev. For a man rotating in high society, among admirers of which were members of the Imperial family, this scandal was a significant blow to the reputation. Clover was not restless, very nervous, couldn't write, took off running for home. In the end, after consulting with his family, he decided to temporarily leave. The choice fell on Germany, and they stayed there for a long time. Julius Klever again actively worked. In Germany he quickly became famous, his paintings loved, regularly held exhibitions, a lot of customers were not. But he was drawn home.

Always in the right place

In 1915, the train arrived at Moscow station. It turned out that Russia was not forgotten. A crowd of admirers, friends and colleagues met Julia Clover with flowers and open arms. Despite the difficult situation in the country: the war went on, and was close to revolution, Clover was back in its place. He traveled a lot: Belarus, Finland, the Baltic States. New paintings, new exhibitions, new publications. And in a situation when the artistic sphere was shaking from the social and artistic transformations, he remained faithful to his style, which was love.

Surprisingly, after the revolution, his lucky ability to be in their place remained. Like many colleagues on a brush, Julius Klever enjoyed the support of the society of artists behalf Arkhip Kuindzhi. To public disasters were treated philosophically, instead of longing for bygone times with a smile remembering his youth.

Petersburg was called Petrograd, and "academic painter" Juli Clover continued to teach at the Academy of fine arts and headed the Department of monumental painting at the Higher art and industrial school named after Mukhina. Even managed to become an Honored worker of arts of RSFSR. However, his name was not included in the list of "required to study". But really, always a successful and popular artist Julius Klever has found its place in any situation is not accidental. Should carefully consider his views to be sure.

Author: Alain Esaulova
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