Grigory Soroka

File:Self-portrait by G.Soroka (1840-50s, Russian museum).jpg

Self-portrait

Grigoriy Vasilyevich Soroka (Template:Langx, real surname Vasilyev (Васильев); November 27 [O.S. November 15] 1823—April 22 [O.S. April 10] 1864) was a Russian painter, one of the most notable members of Venetsianov school.

Life

Soroka was born as a serf in Pokrovskoye village (Tver Guberniya), owned by the Milyukov family. In 1842-1847 he studied art from Alexey Venetsianov then he was returned to his owner. In the 1850s-1860s he resided in his home village. He fell in love with his owner's daughter Lydia but was forcibly married to a serf woman. After the emancipation reform of 1861 in Russia, Soroka remained under the serfdom system. He made a formal complaint but it was rejected and he was flogged. Soroka's body was found in the baking room where he had hanged himself. His beloved Lydia poisoned herself soon after.

Art

Though Soroka's surviving output is relatively small and includes no more than 20 undated paintings, Soroka proved himself to be a gifted draughtsman. He also painted several icons for local churches, among them Saviour Not Made by Hands.

• Fishermen
  Fishermen
• Dam in Spasskoye, Tambov Guberniya
  Dam in Spasskoye, Tambov Guberniya
• Lydia Milyukov, 1840s
  Lydia Milyukov, 1840s
• Peasant boy, 1840s
  Peasant boy, 1840s
• Reflection in a mirror, 1850s
  Reflection in a mirror, 1850s

Further reading

• Template:In lang Обухов, В. Григорий Сорока. М., 1982