Karl Bryullov Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Karl Bryullov
Карл Павлович Брюллов
Karl Bryullov, self-portrait, oil on cardboard, 1848. Tretiakov Gallery, Moscow
Born	Charles Bruleau (1799-12-12)December 12, 1799 St. Petersburg
Died	June 11, 1852(1852-06-11) (aged 52) Manziana
Resting place	Cimitero Acattolico
Nationality	Russian
Education	Professor by rank (1836)
Alma mater	Imperial Academy of Arts (1821)
Known for	Engraving, Painting
Movement	Romantic; Orientalist
Awards

Karl Pavlovich Bryullov (Russian: Карл Па́влович Брюлло́в; December 12, 1799 – June 11, 1852), whose original name was Charles Bruleau, was a famous Russian painter. His friends sometimes called him "Karl the Great." He is known for helping Russian art change from an older style called neoclassicism to a newer one called romanticism.

Karl Bryullov's Life Story
- Becoming a Famous Artist
- Teaching and Later Years
Selected Artwork
Images for kids
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Karl Bryullov's Life Story

Karl Bryullov was born in Saint Petersburg on December 12, 1799. His father, Pavel Ivanovich Briullo, was an academic, woodcarver, and engraver. Karl came from a family with French roots. From a young age, he dreamed of visiting Italy.

He studied at the Imperial Academy of Arts from 1809 to 1821. Even though he learned the classical style there, Karl didn't fully follow it. He was a very promising student with a lot of imagination. After finishing his studies, he moved to Rome, Italy, in 1821. He worked there until 1835.

Becoming a Famous Artist

In Rome, Karl Bryullov painted many portraits and everyday scenes. But he became truly famous for his historical paintings. His most well-known work is The Last Day of Pompeii (1830–1833). This huge painting shows the ancient city of Pompeii during a volcanic eruption.

Famous writers like Alexander Pushkin and Nikolai Gogol compared this painting to the best works of artists like Peter Paul Rubens and Anthony van Dyck. The painting caused a big stir in Italy. It made Bryullov one of the best European painters of his time.

After finishing The Last Day of Pompeii, he returned to Russia. He was welcomed like a hero in the capital city. He made many friends among important people and thinkers. He also got a high position at the Imperial Academy of Arts.

Teaching and Later Years

From 1836 to 1848, Karl Bryullov taught at the academy. During this time, he developed a unique style for his portraits. He mixed the simple look of neoclassicism with the emotional feel of Romanticism. He also liked to paint things very realistically, showing people's feelings deeply.

While working on the ceiling of St Isaac's Cathedral, his health got worse. His doctors told him to leave Russia. So, in 1849, Bryullov went to Madeira. He spent the last three years of his life in Italy. He passed away in the village of Manziana, near Rome, on June 11, 1852. He is buried in the Cimitero Acattolico there.