USHAKOV Simon
1626, Moscow — 1686, Moscow
Synonymous with an important period in the history of Muscovite painting in the seventeenth century and the activities of the Armoury icon-painting workshop. Began working at the Armoury as a silversmith (1648). Following his appointment as royal icon-painter (1664), took over as head of the icon-painting section and remained there until his death (1686). An engraver and icon-painter, he also decorated the interiors of churches and created book miniatures. Painted parsuni (portraits) of Tsar Alexis Mikhailovich, decorated palace fittings, compiled an album entitled Alphabet of the Arts and wrote a treatise on icon-painting. First in the history of Russian icon-painting to employ such devices of West European art as volumetric modelling of form and perspective.
The Mediateka
Virtual tour of the exhibition, held in the Russian Museum from 21 February to 13 May 2019.