Fine Arts of Tatarstan are an integral part of multinational art of Russia and of the whole world. Professional art in Tatarstan, as we understand this term now, came into existence at the beginning of the XIX century. It was connected, first of all, with the important role, which the city played in life of Russia, particularly after the foundation of the University in 1804. Besides, Kazan was a kind of boundary of Russian West and Russian East. It gave a special coloring to the city and left traces in its destiny and art as well. But the main basis for future development of fine arts in Tatarstan was the Fine Arts School, opened in Kazan in 1895.

Very soon it became the centre of artistic life of the whole Middle Volga Region. Speaking of Fine Arts in Tatarstan, one should mention the ancient art origins of the Tatars’ ancestors, the Bulgars of the Volga region of the pre-Mongolian period, as well as Bulgar-Tatars’ art of the Holden Orde time and the Kazanien Khanate later on. These centuries laid strong foundation for future art of the Tatars, and applied art first of all. In whole it is our national pride and spiritual wealth. Applied art was presented in many genres: jeweler’s art, weaving, embroidery, leather mosaic, carving, and calligraphy in manuscripts and shamails. Now this art is being reviving in the republic.

The art of Tatarstan had been developed during the period from the end of the XIX century to the 1990th. At that time a group of leading artists of older generation was formed. Among them were Kh. Yakupov, L. Fattakhov, V. Kudelkin, N. Kuznetsov, R. Nurmukhametov, M. Usmanov, S. Lyvin, K. Maksimov, A. Rodionov, and earlier N. Feshin, P. Benkov, S. Yakhshibayev, S. Akhunov, V. Timofeyev, N. Sokolsky, K Chebotaryov, and N. Valiullin. The role of Baki Urmanche in fine art of the republic is really great and essential. He is the artist of world scale. S. Isayeva. “Syuyumbike”. 1998. A. Khisamov “Sennaya (Hay-Market) Mosque”. 2001. These days many masters of middle generation, which is gradually becoming an older one, have been working successfully: I. Zaripov, A. Abdrashitov, V. Arshinov, I. Bashmakov, E. Busova, Z. Ghimayev, R. Gusmanov, R. Imashev, R. Karimullin, R. Kildibekov, R. Nigmatullina, V. Skobeyev, S. Shaidullin, A. Fatkhutdinov, V. Fyodorov, G. Eidinov, and F. Yakupov. These painters have made a great contribution to the art of Tatarstan, enriching it with new works of high artistic standard of civil, social and lyric character.

A lot of new names have appeared recently. Among them there are A. Saifutdinov, Kh. Sharipov, A. Shlyapkin, I. Antonova, A. Ilyasova, V. Busov, M. Nigmatullina, I. Rogozhina, A. Khisamov, F. Khalikov and Z. Minniakhmetov. These painters are very different in style and search of artistic manner. They create works of different genres, using various techniques. The range of their subjects is rather wide. Art of young generation has an avant-garde tendency. Striving for novelty, frank feelings and thoughts, relaxedness, a free artistic language and different themes and problems are obvious in their works. These subjects imply peace and war, global and cosmic catastrophes, people’s sufferings and tears. V. Akimov, Ye. Golubtsov, V. Nesterenko, and A. Dorofeyev are notable by their individual manner and symbolic subjects among the avant-garde painters of Tatarstan. F. Khalikov “Kazan of the XVI century”. 1995. Many artists aspire to create shamails with texts, rich and various in composition in the spirit of the time. They use new materials and technique, expressing the unity idea of man, cosmos and God not only in a religious, but also in a philosophical aspect. Among such artists there are F. Ghirfanov and N. Nakkash. But the main role in the genre of shamails belongs to Baki Urmanche, who left remarkable samples of shamails, which are considered to be the masterpieces of subtle Arabic calligraphy. All the styles, techniques and tendencies, mentioned above, represent the unique contemporary art of Tatarstan of t