15 Facts About Viktor Vasnetsov

Viktor Vasnetsov is considered a co-founder of Russian folklorist and romantic nationalistic painting, and a key figure in the Russian Revivalist movement.

Viktor Vasnetsov was born in the remote village of Lopyal in Vyatka Governorate in 1848, the second of the seven children.

Viktor Vasnetsov's father Mikhail Vasilievich Vasnetsov, known to be philosophically inclined, was a member of the priesthood, and a scholar of the natural sciences and astronomy.

Viktor Vasnetsov auctioned his paintings of Woman Harvester and Milk-maid to raise the money required for the trip to the Russian capital.

Viktor Vasnetsov befriended their leader Ivan Kramskoi during his drawing classes before entering the Academy, referring to him as his teacher.

Viktor Vasnetsov became very close to fellow student Ilya Yefimovich Repin.

In 1876 Repin invited Viktor Vasnetsov to join the Peredvizhniki colony in Paris.

Viktor Vasnetsov was a model for Sadko in Repin's celebrated painting Sadko.

Viktor Vasnetsov increasingly turned to other media during this period.

At the turn of the century, Viktor Vasnetsov elaborated his hallmark "fairy-tale" style of Russian Revivalist architecture.

Viktor Vasnetsov's first acclaimed design was a church in Abramtsevo, executed jointly with Vasily Polenov.

Between 1906 and 1911, Viktor Vasnetsov worked on the design of the mosaics for Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Warsaw; he was involved in the design of Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Moscow.

Viktor Vasnetsov allocated a significant portion of his income to the State Historical Museum, so that a large part of the museum's collection was acquired on Vasnetsov's money.

In 1915, Viktor Vasnetsov participated in the designing of a military uniform for the Victory parade of the Russian army in Berlin and Constantinopole.

Viktor Vasnetsov is credited with the creation of the budenovka, a military hat reproducing the style of Kievan Rus' cone-shaped helmets.