Весна

1872

Academy Fellowship Journey to Europe

After completing his university course in the Faculty of Law in 1871, Polenov went abroad in 1872 as a pensioner (fellowship holder) of the Academy: he visited Vienna, Munich, Venice, Florence, and Naples, and lived for an extended period in Paris.

1876

Volunteer in the Serbian-Turkish War

Returning to Russia in 1876, Polenov went off to the Serbian-Montenegrin-Turkish War in the army of General Chernyayev; for his part in the fighting he was awarded the Serbian Medal for Bravery and the Order of the Cross of Takovo.

1878

Moscow Courtyard at the 6th Peredvizhniki Exhibition

The painting Moscow Courtyard was shown at the 6th exhibition of the Peredvizhniki in Moscow in 1878 and acquired by Pavel Tretyakov; it became a major milestone in the development of Russian painting on the path toward the mood landscape.

1881–1882

First Journey to the Middle East

In 1881–1882 Polenov, with the expedition of Prince Abamelek-Lazarev and Adrian Prakhov, made his first journey through the biblical lands — to Constantinople, Palestine, Syria, and Egypt — bringing back sketches for the canvas Christ and the Sinner and paintings in a manner new to him.

1887

Christ and the Sinner at the 15th Peredvizhniki Exhibition

In 1887 Polenov exhibited the principal canvas of his life, Christ and the Sinner, at the 15th Peredvizhniki exhibition; the painting was bought by Alexander III for the then-enormous sum of 30,000 rubles, giving the artist financial independence.

1890

Purchase of the Byokhovo Estate, Building of Borok

In 1890 Polenov acquired the small estate of Byokhovo in Tula Governorate on the high bank of the Oka and, with the money from the sale of Christ and the Sinner, built a house to his own design with art studios; the estate was named Borok.