The art of the second half of the XVIIIth century: the origin and development of the history painting, the founders of the genre

The article deals with the origin and the further development of the history painting of the XVIIIth century in Russia. There are described the basic characteristics of the genre. There was considered the historiography of this theme, there were revealed the opinions and values of the Art experts. The authors demonstrated the key painters, working in the history painting, and contributed to its development. There are considered their fundamental works, there is given their description.