Conservatory 

Isaac Levitan captured this scene in oil on canvas entitled Conservatory, which now resides in the Tula Regional Museum of Fine Arts. The painting immerses us within the closed interior of a conservatory with verdant vegetation pressing in from all sides. The strong diagonal lines of the glass roof structure are immediately apparent. These structural lines create a dynamic interplay with the organic forms of the plants. Levitan's brushstrokes are loose, heightening the sensation of the humid air and the lush abundance of foliage. The palette is dominated by shades of green, yet punctuated by touches of red flowers, introducing a vibrant counterpoint to the scene. The perspective draws the viewer down the narrow path into the depths of the greenhouse, creating a sense of enclosure and quiet contemplation. The painting destabilizes our sense of interior versus exterior space, blurring these boundaries. The painting is an exploration of controlled nature, captured with a sensitivity to the formal elements of composition, color and light.