Alexey Venetsianov
Legendary Artist
Painting
Artworks
In Collections
Born into a merchant family, Alexey Venetsianov was of Greek descent. Early, in the nineteenth century he joined civil service and moved to St. Petersburg. Born in 1780, Venetsianov, started studying art only after this move. Initially, he practiced art from the paitings of the State Hermitage Museum and friends' portraits. Later, when he got acquainted with Vladimir Borovikosky, he lived at his house, as his apprentice. At around 1819, Venetsianov left his service to devote his life to art. He bought Safonkovo, a village, and settled there to practice.