Mikalojus Konstantinas ČIURLIONIS (CHIURLIONIS)
Born 1875, Varenai, Lithuania - Died 1911, Warszawa, Poland.
Painter and composer.
Paintings and graphic work Biography
Paintings and graphic work
Ships. 1903.
Pastel. 31.4x36.9 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Capricorn Fantasy. 1903. (From the series "Enchanted City")
Pastel. 62.5x72.8 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Funeral Symphony II. 1903. (From the series of 7 paintings)
Pastel. 61.5x72.8 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Funeral Symphony III. 1903. (From the series of 7 paintings)
Pastel. 73x62.8 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Funeral Symphony IV. 1903. (From the series of 7 paintings)
Pastel. 61.5x72.5 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Paintings and graphic work Biography Top of Page
Funeral Symphony V. 1903. (From the series of 7 paintings)
Pastel. 72.8x62.4 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Funeral Symphony VII. 1903. (From the series of 7 paintings)
Pastel. 72.8x62.5 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
An Old Church in Druskininkai. 1904.
Pencil on paper.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
An Angel. 1904.
Pastel. 72.2x61.6 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Thought. 1904.
Pastel. 61x75.7 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Paintings and graphic work Biography Top of Page
A Faun. 1904.
Pastel. 72.5x46.8 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Bells. 1904-1905. (From the cycle "Storm")
Pastel. 91.4x74.3 cm.
Vilnius Art Museum, Lithuania.
A Leafless Tree. 1904-1905.
Engraving on glass (Fluoroforte).
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
A Snowed Hut. 1904-1905.
Engraving on glass (Fluoroforte).
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Day. 1905. (From the series "Day and Night")
Pastel. 56x73.3 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Paintings and graphic work Biography Top of Page
Night. 1905. (From the cycle "Day and Night")
Pastel. 62.1x73.2 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
The Creation of the World I. 1905. (From a series of 13 paintings)
Tempera, 35.5x30.5 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
The Creation of the World III. 1905. (From a series of 13 paintings)
Tempera, 35.5x30.5 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
The Creation of the World VI. 1905. (From a series of 13 paintings)
Tempera, 35.5x30.5 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
The Creation of the World VII. 1905. (From a series of 13 paintings)
Tempera, 35.5x30.5 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Paintings and graphic work Biography Top of Page
The Creation of the World VIII. 1905. (From a series of 13 paintings)
Tempera, 35.5x30.5 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
The Creation of the World X. 1905. (From a series of 13 paintings)
Tempera, 35.5x30.5 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
The Creation of the World XI. 1905. (From a series of 13 paintings)
Tempera, 35.5x30.5 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Initials.
Feather and Indian ink on paper.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
A Ship. Clouds. 1906.
Pastel. 84.5x67.5 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Paintings and graphic work Biography Top of Page
Friendship. 1906.
Pastel. 72.7x62.5 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Sparks. 1906-1907.
Tempera, 31.8x36.8 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Fairy-Tale. Journey of the Princess I. 1907.
Tempera, 73x62.7 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Fairy-Tale. Journey of the Princess II. 1907.
Tempera, 62.2x71.5 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Fairy-Tale. Journey of the Princess III. 1907.
Tempera, 62.2x71.5 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Paintings and graphic work Biography Top of Page
The Tidings. 1907.
Tempera, 64.2x90.7 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Winter II. 1907. (From the series of 8 paintings)
Tempera, 36.1x31.1 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Winter III. 1907. (From the series of 8 paintings)
Tempera, 36.6x31 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Winter IV. 1907. (From the series of 8 paintings)
Tempera, 30x36.2 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Zodiac III. Aries. 1907. (From the cycle of 12 paintings)
Tempera, 36.2x31.4 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Paintings and graphic work Biography Top of Page
Zodiac IV. Taurus. 1907. (From the cycle of 12 paintings)
Tempera, 36.4x31.4 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Zodiac VI. Virgo. 1907. (From the cycle of 12 paintings)
Tempera, 36.1x31.6 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Zodiac IX. Sagittarius. 1907. (From the cycle of 12 paintings)
Tempera, 36.4x31.5 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Spring Sonata. Allegro. 1907.
Tempera, 72.5x62.7 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Spring Sonata. Andante. 1907.
Tempera, 63.2x58.4 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Paintings and graphic work Biography Top of Page
Spring Sonata. Scherzo. 1907.
Tempera, 72.6x61.7 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Spring Sonata. Finale. 1907.
Tempera, 72.6x61.8 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Summer I. 1907. (From a series)
Tempera, 36.5x31.9 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Summer II. 1907. (From a series)
Tempera, 49x47 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Summer IV. 1907. (From a series)
Tempera, 36.5x31.9 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Paintings and graphic work Biography Top of Page
Sonata of the Sun. Allegro. 1907.
Tempera, 63x58.8 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Sonata of the Sun. Andante. 1907.
Tempera, 63.2x58.4 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Sonata of the Sun. Scherzo. 1907.
Tempera, 60.2x56.6 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Sonata of the Sun. Finale. 1907.
Tempera, 61.2x57 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Town. 1908.
Tempera, 37.3x31 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Paintings and graphic work Biography Top of Page
Josef's Dream. 1908.
Tempera, 61.7x72.5 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Prelude of the Angels. 1908.
Tempera, 50.3x54 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Rider Above a Town. 1908.
Tempera, 58.8x70.4 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
The Kings. Fairy-Tale. 1908.
Tempera, 69.7x74.9 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Composition. 1908-1909.
Feather and Indian ink on paper.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Paintings and graphic work Biography Top of Page
Sonata of the Sea. 1908. Allegro.
Tempera, 73x62.4 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Sonata of the Sea. 1908. Andante.
Tempera, 73.1x62.1 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Sonata of the Sea. 1908. Finale.
Tempera, 73x62.3 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Composition. 1908-1909.
Feather and Indian ink on paper.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Allegro (from the series "Serpent Sonata"). 1908.
Tempera, 59.8x70.4 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Paintings and graphic work Biography Top of Page
Finale (from the series "Serpent Sonata"). 1908.
Tempera, 73x62.4 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Composition. 1908-1909.
Feather and Indian ink on paper.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Sonata of the Stars. Allegro. 1908.
Tempera, 70.2x59.8 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Sonata of the Stars. Andante. 1908.
Tempera, 73x61.2 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
The Demon. 1908-1909.
Tempera, 56.4x73 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Paintings and graphic work Biography Top of Page
Allegro (from the series "Sonata of the Pyramids"). 1908-1909.
Tempera, 76.3x53.2 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Insinuating. 1908-1909.
Feather and Indian ink on paper.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Ornament. 1908-1909.
Feather and Indian ink on paper.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Music Title-Page. 1908-1909.
Feather and Indian ink on paper.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Music Title-Page. 1908-1909.
Feather and Indian ink on paper.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Paintings and graphic work Biography Top of Page
Music Title-Page.
1908-1909.
Feather and Indian ink on paper.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Thunder. 1909.
Tempera, 60.4x60.4 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Offering. 1909.
Oil. 70x77.8 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Rex. 1909.
Tempera, 146.8x133.8 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Paradise. 1909.
Tempera, 47.3x61.7 cm.
The Memorial Museum of M.Čiurlionis, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Sacrifice. 1909.
The Russian Museum, St.Petersburg.
Paintings and graphic work Biography Top of Page
Biography:
Čiurlionis was not a Russian artist, he was Lithuanian, but he has taken part in the exhibitions at the Salon of Makovsky (1909), at the Union of Russian Artists (1909 and 1910) and the World of Art (1910) in St.Petersburg with great success as a symbolist. His creation is very peculiar, combining fantastic visions, mysticism, fairy-tales, folk and religious beliefs with symbolic silvery spectrum. He worked basically in pastel or tempera. Almost all of his paintings are now in the Kaunas Memorial Museum of Čiurlionis, Lithuania.
Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis was born in the family of a church cantor and organist. His childhood passed in Druskininkai, a little village in Lithuania. From his early years his life was connected with music and art. He studied at the Art School of J.Kausik (1902-1905) and at the Art College in Warszawa (1905).
He was a member of the World of Art from 1909.
Because Čiurlionis was a composer as well, he created his paintings by laws of the music. Many cycles and series of his pictures are titled "Prelude", "Sonata" and usually consist of four parts: Allegro, Andante, Scherzo, Finale.
The artist aimed to create a synthesis of temporal and spatial arts, perhaps slightly naive, but in his lines, graphics and picture images a rhythm is always present, leading a melody, color tones and modulations just musical repetitions and symmetries.
Endowed with enhanced sensitivity, he has succumbed at the end of his short life to mental disease. Čiurlionis was admitted into a mental hospital in Warszawa and there he died. Studies of his creation and numerous publications began after the death of the artist.