(born Niko Pirosmanashvili; May 5, 1862-1918) was a Georgian primitivist painter.
Pirosmani was born in the Georgian village of Mirzaani to a pleasant family in the Kakheti province. His family owned a small vineyard. He was later orphaned and put in the care of his two elder sisters. He moved with them to Tbilisi in 1870. In 1872 he worked as a servant for wealthy families and learned to read and write Russian and Georgian. In 1876 he returned to Mirzaani and worked as a herdsman.
Pirosmani gradually taught himself to paint. One of his specialties was painting directly into black oilcloth. In 1882 he opened a workshop in Tbilisi which was unsuccessful. In 1890 he worked as a railroad conductor, and in 1895 worked creating signboards. In 1893 he co-founded a dairy farm in Tbilisi which he left in 1901. Throughout his life Pirosmani, who was always poor, was willing to take up ordinary jobs including housepainting and whitewashing buildings. Although his paintings had some local popularity (about 200 survive) his relationship with professional artists remained uneasy; making a living was always more important to him than abstract aesthetics.
Niko Pirosmanashvili (born Niko Pirosmanashvili; May 5, 1862-1918) was a Georgian primitivist painter.
Pirosmani was born in the Georgian village of Mirzaani to a pleasant family in the Kakheti province. His family owned a small vineyard. He was later orphaned and put in the care of his two elder sisters. He moved with them to Tbilisi in 1870. In 1872 he worked as a servant for wealthy families and learned to read and write Russian and Georgian. In 1876 he returned to Mirzaani and worked as a herdsman.
Pirosmani gradually taught himself to paint. One of his specialties was painting directly into black oilcloth. In 1882 he opened a workshop in Tbilisi which was unsuccessful. In 1890 he worked as a railroad conductor, and in 1895 worked creating signboards. In 1893 he co-founded a dairy farm in Tbilisi which he left in 1901. Throughout his life Pirosmani, who was always poor, was willing to take up ordinary jobs including housepainting and whitewashing buildings. Although his paintings had some local popularity (about 200 survive) his relationship with professional artists remained uneasy; making a living was always more important to him than abstract aesthetics.
ID de tableau:: 83678 A girl and a goose with goslings A girl and a goose with goslings
from 1862(1862) until 1918(1918)
Medium Oil on cardboard
cyf from 1862(1862) until 1918(1918)
Medium Oil on cardboard
cyf
ID de tableau:: 84730 Molokani Carousing Molokani Carousing
1905(1905)
Medium Oil on oilcloth
Dimensions 112 x 179.5 cm (44.1 x 70.7 in)
cyf 1905(1905)
Medium Oil on oilcloth
Dimensions 112 x 179.5 cm (44.1 x 70.7 in)
cyf
ID de tableau:: 86184 Healer on a Donkey Healer on a Donkey
Date 1900s(1900s)
Medium Oil on oilcloth
Dimensions 80 x 100 cm (31.5 x 39.4 in)
cjr Date 1900s(1900s)
Medium Oil on oilcloth
Dimensions 80 x 100 cm (31.5 x 39.4 in)
cjr
ID de tableau:: 92521 Autumn Feast Autumn Feast
Date from 1862(1862) until 1918(1918)
Medium oil on oilcloth
Dimensions 179.5 X 379 cm (70.7 X 149.2 in)
TTD Date from 1862(1862) until 1918(1918)
Medium oil on oilcloth
Dimensions 179.5 X 379 cm (70.7 X 149.2 in)
TTD
ID de tableau:: 92522 Shepherd in a Sheepskin Cloak on a Red Background Shepherd in a Sheepskin Cloak on a Red Background
Description Niko Pirosmani. Shepherd in a Sheepskin Cloak on a Red Background. Oil on oilcloth. Private collection.jpg
English: Niko Pirosmani. Shepherd in a Sheepskin Cloak on a Red Background. Oil on oilcloth. Private collection
Date pre 1919
TTD Description Niko Pirosmani. Shepherd in a Sheepskin Cloak on a Red Background. Oil on oilcloth. Private collection.jpg
English: Niko Pirosmani. Shepherd in a Sheepskin Cloak on a Red Background. Oil on oilcloth. Private collection
Date pre 1919
TTD