Working with Words

 

Exercise 1. Get together with another student and practice the spelling and pronunciation of the following:

крепостное право, просвещение, эстетический, псевдо, цензура, престиж, канон, коммуна, эрозия, кредо, расторжение, наследуемый, безжалостно.

 

Exercise 2. Read out the words and their derivatives with proper word stress:

aristocratic – aristocracy, sincere – sincerity, progress – to progress, hostile – hostility, deep – depth, antique – antiquity, exhibit – exhibition, control – to control, proud – pride

 

Exercise 3. Give English variants to:

отражать чаяния народа, изображать широту народной души, быть значимым в художественно-образовательном отношении, будить в зрителях чувство, политическое по цели и реалистичное по трактовке; устраивать выставки, бунт, быть лишенным, репрессии, высокомерие, высокие церковные чины, новаторский подход, разрыв, провозглашаемый (исповедуемый).

 

Exercise 4. Fill in the blanks with proper prepositions:

1. The new trend … art had as its basis the spirit of democracy.

2. Those were years of struggle … serfdom … the rights of the Common man.

3. The language of their art was realistic and understandable … all.

4. Works produced … the Academy walls or … its approval were … the most part episodes from the Bible, classical or European history and mythology.

5. The heroes and events of antiquity were viewed as a kind of aesthetic ideal and were therefore devoid … any sense of actuality.

6. Dissatisfaction … the academic system gradually gained hold both … the public and among the Academy’s students.

7. 14 most illustrious undergraduates led … Ivan Kramskoy left the Academy without graduating … protest against the old Academic canons when they were denied … a free choice of the subject matter for their graduation canvases.

8. They organized the Petersburg Association (Artel) of Artists, a kind of commune, which broke… several years later, to give rise … a second and more powerful democratic union of artists, independent … the Academy – the Society of Travelling Art Exhibitions.

9. The pictures were realistic … treatment and often political … purpose.

10. The art of the Itinerants was inspired by a great love for their country and it contributed … the strengthening of people’s pride … their native land and the growth of their self-consciousness.

11. There were frank discussions … each other’s works and critical comments were accepted … due regard. The atmosphere that reigned in the Society contributed greatly … the success of the Itinerants.

12. The Society members were subjected … administrative persecution, strict censorship and vicious attacks … the reactionary press. … the other hand, well aware … the Academy’s diminishing prestige and erosion of its principles, the government tried to subordinate the Society … the Academy

13. Their art, directed … the existing social order for freedom and democracy was received … contempt and hostility by the authorities.

14. It led … the weakening of their ties … the Society and … some instances… a complete breach … it.

 

II. LET’S READ AND TALK ABOUT PAINTING