Alexander Andreyevich Ivanov facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Alexander Andreyevich Ivanov
Александр Андреевич Иванов
Sergey Postnikov [ru], Alexander Andreyevich Ivanov, c. 1873, oil on canvas after the 1846 daguerreotype, Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow
Born	(1806-07-16)July 16, 1806 Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire
Died	July 3, 1858(1858-07-03) (aged 51) Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire
Alma mater	Imperial Academy of Arts (1827)
Known for	Painting
Awards
Elected	Member Academy of Arts (1836)

Alexander Andreyevich Ivanov (born July 28, 1806 – died July 15, 1858) was a famous Russian painter. He followed an older style of art called Neoclassicism. Ivanov was born and died in St. Petersburg. He is most known for one very large painting. It took him 20 years to finish this masterpiece, called The Appearance of Christ Before the People.

Life of Alexander Ivanov

Early Life and Art School

Alexander Andreyevich Ivanov was born in 1806. His father, Andrey Ivanov, was an art professor. When Alexander was just 11 years old, he joined the Imperial Academy of Arts. He studied art there with his father as his teacher. Another famous artist, Karl Briullov, was also his classmate.

Alexander was a very talented student. He won two silver medals for his great work. In 1824, he earned a gold medal for his painting, 'Priam Asking Achilles to Return Hector's Body'. Three years later, in 1827, he received the highest award. This was the Big Gold Medal of the Imperial Academy of Arts. He won it for his painting, 'Joseph interprets the butler's and the baker's dreams'.

Studying Art in Europe

People who supported Ivanov's art decided to send him abroad. They wanted him to learn even more about painting. Before he left, he painted 'Bellerophon sent to a campaign against the Chimera'. In 1830, Ivanov traveled to Europe. He first visited Germany, then moved to Italy.

Years in Italy

Ivanov spent most of his life in Rome, Italy. His first works there were copies of famous art. He copied parts of The Creation of Adam from the Sistine Chapel. He also made many sketches of scenes from the Bible.

Ivanov had a big dream. He wanted to create a huge painting about the Messiah (Christ) coming to people. But first, he decided to paint a smaller picture. In 1834–1835, he finished Appearance of Jesus Christ to Maria Magdalena. This painting was very successful. People in both Rome and St. Petersburg loved it. In 1836, the Russian Imperial Academy of Arts gave Ivanov an honorary academic degree.

While in Rome, he became friends with the writer Gogol. He was also influenced by a group of artists called the Nazarenes.

His Greatest Painting

Ivanov spent 20 years working on his most famous painting. This was from 1837 to 1857. The masterpiece is called The Appearance of Christ Before the People. He worked on it while living in Rome.

Later Life and Legacy

Alexander Ivanov died from cholera on July 3, 1858. He was buried in St. Petersburg. Later, in 1936, his remains were moved. He was reburied at the Tikhvin Cemetery. This cemetery is part of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra.

Over time, people began to appreciate Ivanov's art more. Many of the sketches he made for The Appearance of Christ Before the People are now seen as masterpieces themselves. You can see a large collection of his works at the Russian Museum in St. Petersburg.

Gallery

• Alexander Andreyevich Ivanov's paintings
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  The Appearance of Christ Before the People (1837–57)

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  Noli me tangere Appearance of Jesus Christ to Maria Magdalena, 1835

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  Joseph interprets the butler's and the baker's dreams, 1827

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  Priam Asking Achilles to Return Hector's Body, 1824

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  Appian Way at Sunset, 1845

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  Cleansing of the Temple, 1824

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  Last supper, 1850

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  Vittoria Caldoni, 1834

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  Nikolai Gogol, 1841

Images for kids

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  A. A. Ivanov 1956 commemorative postage stamp of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.