This article is devoted to the analysis of the image of Stasov, outstanding Russian art critic, from the direction of his enemies in the newspaper «Novoe Vremya» («New Time»). There is distinguished the polemics, which is developed in the national periodical press as regards the productions ofV. V. Vereshchagin, I. Ye. Repine, M. M. Antocolsky and «The New Russian School» leaders. This productions, presented by Stasov as picture of «the Russian direction», were roughly criticized by the «Novoe Vremya». The article gives a series of images, which were lives on the pages of «Novoe Vremya» and historical estimate of the changing positions of the sides.