Болото. Этюд

1873–1885

Friends from school: Korovin, Nesterov, Shekhtel, N. Chekhov

During his years at the school Levitan befriends Konstantin Korovin, Mikhail Nesterov, the architect Fyodor Shekhtel and the painter Nikolay Chekhov — the writer's brother, who entered the school in 1875.

1880

Tretyakov buys “Autumn Day” for 100 roubles

The famous philanthropist and art collector Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov buys the painting for 100 roubles and will go on to acquire about twenty more of Levitan's works.

early 1880s

Illustrations for the magazine “Moscow” and the book “Kremlin”

In the early 1880s he works with the Chekhov brothers on the illustrated magazine “Moscow” and illustrates M. Fabritsius's edition “Kremlin”.

by 1883

The school rejects his picture for the medal

By 1883, disillusioned with the school, Levitan submits a landscape for a silver medal that would have made him a classed artist; Savrasov, by then drinking heavily and no longer teaching, writes “silver medal” on the back of the canvas, but the school rejects the painting and Levitan stops attending classes. Korovin repeated gossip that antisemitism played a part in the rejection.

spring 1884

He takes part in a Peredvizhniki exhibition

In the spring of 1884 he takes part in the travelling exhibition of the Peredvizhniki; he will become a member of their Association in 1891.

mid-1880s

His heart disease sharply worsens

Levitan's material situation improves in the mid-1880s, but a hungry childhood, an unsettled life and hard work tell on his health: his heart disease sharply worsens.