1805, Püssi Estate (Ostland Province) - 1876, St Petersburg

Painter, history painter, portraitist, monumentalist, icon painter. Studied under Friedrich Hartmann Barisien at the Dresden Academy of Arts. Completed a course of study at the Imperial Academy of Arts and awarded a fellowship to Italy (1825). Returned to St Petersburg (1827). Awarded the title of court artist and nominated to the Imperial Academy of Arts (1832). Granted a lifetime pension for painting icons for a church in Alexandria Park in Peterhof. Visited Italy (1835-1837, 1842, 1857-1858), travelled across Russia to learn folk types and everyday life (1837). Academician (1839) for his paintings for the Little Chapel in the Winter Palace. Decorated St Isaac’s Cathedral (1842-1847). Professor for the iconostasis in St Isaac’s Cathedral (1849). Taught at the Imperial Academy of Arts (from 1855). Curator of the Imperial Hermitage Picture Gallery (from 1864). Contributed to decoration of many churches, till the end of his life created studies for the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow.