Летний вечер

1887

His first trip to the Volga: the river seems dreary

In 1887 he at last fulfils his dream and goes to the Volga, which his teacher Savrasov had painted so movingly (in the early 1880s his sister's illness had prevented the trip). In cold, overcast weather the river disappoints him: it seems to him dreary and dead.

late 1880s – early 1890s

Heads the landscape class at Gunst's school

In the late 1880s and early 1890s he heads the landscape class at the School of Fine Arts of the artist-architect A. O. Gunst.

spring 1888

He discovers Plyos on the Volga

In spring 1888 he sails by steamer along the Oka to Nizhny Novgorod and on up the Volga with the artist Alexei Stepanov and Sofia Kuvshinnikova; to their own surprise they discover the small, quiet town of Plyos and decide to stay on for a while. The three summer seasons there (1888–1890) prove extremely productive: some two hundred works bring Levitan wide fame.

late 1889 – early 1890

His first trip to Western Europe

He visits France and Italy, wanting to get to know modern painting better as shown at the World Exhibition in Paris — probably above all the Barbizon school and the Impressionists. According to Nesterov, in the West he became convinced that the path he had chosen was the right one.

summer 1890

Yuryevets: the idea of “A Quiet Monastery”

In summer 1890 he goes to Yuryevets and, among many landscapes and studies, paints “View of the Krivoozersky Monastery”; this is how the idea of “A Quiet Monastery” is born. The picture made a strong impression on Chekhov.

March 1891

Admitted to the Peredvizhniki Association

In March 1891 he becomes a member of the Association of Travelling Art Exhibitions.