The execution by the French of Russian patriots in Moscow in 1812

The artist is Tikhonov

There are several versions of the causes of the fire that contributed to the abandonment of Moscow by Napoleon. The most plausible is the “patriotic”, according to which the arson was carried out by the townspeople themselves. The French were sure that Moscow was set on by order of the Moscow Governor Count F. AT. Transcal. A strong wind switched a flame, and soon almost all of Moscow burned. On suspicion of arson by the French military field court, up to 400 citizens from the lower classes were shot.

In 1813, the graduates of the historical class of IAX were given the program “to depict loyalty to God and the sovereign of Russian citizens who, formerly executed in Moscow, went to death with a firm and pious spirit, disagreeing to fulfill the command of Napoleonovo”. Tikhonov’s painting, written on this plot, was awarded the second gold medal in the fall of that year. (Pavel Klimov, Svetlana Moiseeva) Electronic catalog “Heroes and villains of Russian history”. SPb, 2010. With. 273.

In the cat. 1980-Sazonov Vasily Kondratievich (1789-1870) or Tikhonov Mikhail (1789-1862).

March 15, 1813 Graduates of the historical class was given a program "To portray loyalty to God and the sovereign of Russian citizens who, exhibiting in Moscow, with a firm and pious spirit went to death, disagreeing to fulfill the command of Napoleonovo". At the solemn public meeting on September 1, 1813, Vasily Sazonov was awarded the first gold medal by historical painting, Mikhail Tikhonov was awarded. Two paintings written according to this program are in the timing and GTG. In the timing, the picture is called "The execution by the French of Russian patriots in Moscow in 1812", In the GTG – "The execution by the French of Russian citizens in 1812". In the cat. 1980, in the GTG. Cat. 2005 and at the GTG Kat. 1984 both paintings are under double authorship-Sazonov Vasily Kondratievich (1789-1870) or Tikhonov Mikhail (1789-1862). There are notes in these catalogs of timing and GTG that "The exact authorship of the picture is not established" and "It is currently not possible to determine which of the two artists is the author of the picture belonging to the HTG". Both works did not come from ah where authorship would have been preserved, but from private individuals: in the timing in 1941 from LZK (SOBR. AT. D. Frolova), in the GTG in 1931 from K. And. Smirnova.

The first attempt to more accurately determine the authorship of the programs was made. N. Tselishcheva, who published in the journal "Artist" article "Forgotten authors of famous paintings". According to l. N. Tselishcheva, the author of the picture in the timing, "It should be considered" AT. Sazonova, the author of the picture located in the GTG, respectively m. Tikhonov. In the GTG version L. N. Tselishcheva adopted (GTG Kat. 2005. With. 854). On the basis of comparative-stylistic and technological research of works in. To. Sazonova and M. T. Tikhonov, as well as the study of works M. T. Tikhonova from the meeting of the timing, with. AT. Moiseeva proved that in the timing there is a program of work m. T. Tikhonov. (Protocol of the attribute council of timing No. 2 (33) dated 01.07.2004). SM: Moiseev with. AT. About the authorship of the paintings "The execution by the French of Russian patriots in Moscow in 1812" (Timing) and "The execution by the French of Russian citizens in 1812" (GTG) // Russian Museum. Pages of the history of domestic art of the XVI -XX centuries. On the 100th anniversary of the birth of George Viktorovich Smirnov. Ext. XIII. SPb, 2007. With. 25-31.