The portrait of painter and educator Alexander Stupin was painted by Nikolay Rachkov, one of the most important masters of genre painting. He is known as a painter, graphic artist and an author of the satirical arts. Currently, most of his works, including On the Eve of a Holiday, Old Woman study, At the Gate, The Cook and many others can be seen in the Tretyakov Gallery and in the State Russian Museum.
Nikolay Rachkov was born in Nizhny Novgorod Province to a family of art teacher. At the age of 13, he enrolled in Alexander Stupin Art School in Arzamas. In 1845, the works of the young artist were featured at the art exhibition of Art School’s students. Rachkov provided The Portrait of a Gypsy to the exhibition, which awarded him a title of a non-class artist and a silver medal.
During the 1860s, Nikolai Rachkov moved to Moscow. At the same time, he became one of the organizers and influential figures of Moscow Society of Art Lovers and participated in elaboration of its statute. Later, he drew caricatures for a weekly satirical magazine Iskra, which was published in Saint Petersburg from 1859 to 1873.
The paintings of Rachkov often featured children and scenes of home life – people liked these kinds of concepts. His paintings were purchased by such famous collectors as Pavel Tretyakov and Kozma Soldatyonkov readily. In 1878, one of Nikolai Rachkov’s paintings, The Almswoman, participated in the academic exhibition, and was later featured in the Russian Empire Pavilion at the World Fair in Paris.
Around the 1840s, Nikolai Rachkov painted a portrait of his mentor, academician Alexander Stupin. He founded the first Russian provincial art school in Arzamas, which played a major role in the development of Russian national education and culture. The school had an extensive programme and quickly became ‘a miniature academy of arts’. It was there that prominent Russian artist Vasily Perov was given basic education. Other famous painters of 19th century, such as Vasily Raev, Kuzma Makarov, Pavel Vedenetsky, and Evgraf Krendovsky, also graduated from the Arzamas School. Works of these and other painters are kept in museums in Saint Petersburg, Moscow, Kazan and Nizhny Novgorod.
After graduating from Arzamas Art School, Nikolai Rachkov, then 21, worked in his alma mater for several more years. Alexander Stupin is depicted at the age of about 60 years old. He posed with two awards on the left lapel of his frock coat. One of these, the Order of Saint Vladimir, 4th class, was awarded to Stupin in 1845, for the dissemination of paintings in his homeland, and for continuing his school for forty years.
Nikolay Rachkov was born in Nizhny Novgorod Province to a family of art teacher. At the age of 13, he enrolled in Alexander Stupin Art School in Arzamas. In 1845, the works of the young artist were featured at the art exhibition of Art School’s students. Rachkov provided The Portrait of a Gypsy to the exhibition, which awarded him a title of a non-class artist and a silver medal.
During the 1860s, Nikolai Rachkov moved to Moscow. At the same time, he became one of the organizers and influential figures of Moscow Society of Art Lovers and participated in elaboration of its statute. Later, he drew caricatures for a weekly satirical magazine Iskra, which was published in Saint Petersburg from 1859 to 1873.
The paintings of Rachkov often featured children and scenes of home life – people liked these kinds of concepts. His paintings were purchased by such famous collectors as Pavel Tretyakov and Kozma Soldatyonkov readily. In 1878, one of Nikolai Rachkov’s paintings, The Almswoman, participated in the academic exhibition, and was later featured in the Russian Empire Pavilion at the World Fair in Paris.
Around the 1840s, Nikolai Rachkov painted a portrait of his mentor, academician Alexander Stupin. He founded the first Russian provincial art school in Arzamas, which played a major role in the development of Russian national education and culture. The school had an extensive programme and quickly became ‘a miniature academy of arts’. It was there that prominent Russian artist Vasily Perov was given basic education. Other famous painters of 19th century, such as Vasily Raev, Kuzma Makarov, Pavel Vedenetsky, and Evgraf Krendovsky, also graduated from the Arzamas School. Works of these and other painters are kept in museums in Saint Petersburg, Moscow, Kazan and Nizhny Novgorod.
After graduating from Arzamas Art School, Nikolai Rachkov, then 21, worked in his alma mater for several more years. Alexander Stupin is depicted at the age of about 60 years old. He posed with two awards on the left lapel of his frock coat. One of these, the Order of Saint Vladimir, 4th class, was awarded to Stupin in 1845, for the dissemination of paintings in his homeland, and for continuing his school for forty years.
