The St. Petersburg Artel of Artists was a cooperative association (artel) led by Russian artists during 1863–1871. It was founded in Saint Petersburg on the initiative of Ivan Kramskoi following a revolt by fourteen students in the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts (Revolt of the Fourteen).

History

Formation and flourishing

On 9 November 1863, fourteen top students in the Imperial Academy of Arts held a protest against the Academy's decision to only allow artwork of Scandinavian mythology in the competition for the Large Gold Medal of Academia, held on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Academy of Arts. The subsequent exit of the artists from the Academy, which went down in the history as the "Revolt of the Fourteen", put its participants in a difficult financial situation.

thumb|left|Imperial Academy of Arts

After leaving the Academy of Arts, the artists vacated their workshops in Academy, which were not only used for work, but also for living. As a result, the participants of the "revolt" united into a labour commune.

The idea for the artel was formed by Ivan Kramskoi. Thus, after its creation, he became the foreman of the artel and remained its leader until its collapse.

References

Further reading

  • Artel of Artists. Историко-культурный интернет-портал «Энциклопедия Санкт-Петербурга» (Historical and cultural Internet portal "Encyclopedia of St. Petersburg")
  • Artel of Artists. Russian history in the mirror of fine art.