Никоненко Тамара Петрівна

   The title of the picture is “A Girl with the Peaches”. The painter is Valentyn Serov. He is a representative of realistic trend in Russian painting of the end of the 19th century. It is the portrait of Vera Mamontova when she was 12.
   The picture appears natural and spontaneous. The picture represents a young girl sitting against the window. The room is light and the girl, wearing the rosy dress is sitting at the table on which we see a silver knife and several peaches. The painter captured well the sitter’s vitality and portrayed his model with moving sincerity. The girl is painted with great concentration on the details. The eyes’ expression is serious and pure. Light, soft and delicate colours predominate in the colour scheme of the picture. This portrait exemplifies a high degree of artistic skill. It leaves the impression of airness and lightness. It is poetic in tone and atmosphere.