Grigory Soroka
Encyclopedia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n painter, one of the most notable members of Venetsianov school
Alexey Venetsianov
Alexey Gavrilovich Venetsianov was a Russian painter, renowned for his paintings devoted to the peasant life and ordinary people.Alexey Venetsianov was born to a merchant family of Greek descent in Moscow. He entered state service in the early 19th century and moved to St. Petersburg, where he...
.
Life
Soroka was born in Pokrovskoye village (Tver Guberniya), in the family of landowner MilyukovMilukoff
Milyukov , also spelled Milukoff, Milukov, Melukov, Melukoff, is an old Russian noble family . Milyukovs were recorded in the ancient nobility books of Moscow, Orlov, Simbirsk, St. Petersburg, Tver, Yaroslavl, and Tula Governorates...
. In 1842-1847 he studied art from Alexey Venetsianov
Alexey Venetsianov
Alexey Gavrilovich Venetsianov was a Russian painter, renowned for his paintings devoted to the peasant life and ordinary people.Alexey Venetsianov was born to a merchant family of Greek descent in Moscow. He entered state service in the early 19th century and moved to St. Petersburg, where he...
then he was returned to his owner. In 1850s-1860s he resided in his home village. He fell in love with his owners's daughter Lydia but was forcibly married to a serf woman. After the emancipation reform of 1861
Emancipation reform of 1861
The Emancipation Reform of 1861 in Russia was the first and most important of liberal reforms effected during the reign of Alexander II of Russia. The reform, together with a related reform in 1861, amounted to the liquidation of serf dependence previously suffered by peasants of the Russian Empire...
in Russia, Soroka remained under the serfdom system. He made a formal complaint but it was rejected and he was flogged. Soroka's body was found in the baking room where he had hanged himself. His beloved Lydia poisoned herself soon after.
Art
Though Soroka's surviving output is relatively small and includes no more than 20 undated paintings, Soroka proved himself to be a gifted draughtsman. He also painted several icons for local churches, among them SaviourJesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
Not Made by Hands.