Fyodor Vasilyev · Wet Meadow

1872 – oil on canvas – The Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow, Russia

Died at the age of 23, victim of a tuberculosis, Feodor Vasilyev was a brilliant “child genius” who established himself as one of the most important and respected Russian painters of his era, introducing the lyrical landscape style in Russian painting. “Wet meadow” is a beautiful, lyric masterwork done completely from memory and a few sketches of the Russian plains.

Vasilyev was a fierce competitor to Ivan Shishkin, who was later accused of boycotting Vasilyev using his important influence.