Alexander Kiselyov was born into a wealthy noble family in 1838 in Sveaborg (today, it is an administrative district of Helsinki, Finland). He studied at the Arakcheevsky Cadet Corps, and since 1852 — at the Second Saint Petersburg Cadet Corps. In 1858, without completing the training course, Kiselyov entered the History and Philology Faculty of the Saint Petersburg State University, as he did not have any real inclination for military service.
Kiselyov was engaged in drawing from early childhood. Parents and the Cadet Corps educators were condescending to this hobby but noted his undoubted talent. In the fall of 1861, after the university’s closure due to student unrest, Kiselyov entered the Saint Petersburg Imperial Academy of Arts, the class of Sokrat Vorobyov, a famous Russian landscape painter and engraver.
In 1864, Kiselyov became a member of the Artel of Artists. A year later, he took part in the Academic Exhibition for the first time and presented the landscape “View from the Outskirts of Moscow”, which received critical and public acclaim. Soon Kiselyov left for Kharkiv and worked there as a secretary of the Land Bank. By this time, he was already married and had three children. The bank job provided the family with a stable income and allowed the artist to paint in his free time. In 1877, Kiselyov and his family moved to Moscow, but he often traveled throughout the country to make sketches for his paintings. He strove to convey the beauty of nature in different weather conditions and at different times of the year.
Kiselyov was also a teacher: he taught drawing in gymnasiums for girls, gave private painting lessons. In 1895–1897, he occupied the position of the inspector of the Higher Art School of the Academy of Arts. When the family’s financial situation improved, the Kiselyovs moved to Saint Petersburg. In 1897, Professor Arkhip Kuindzhi left the Academy, and Kiselev took his position as the head of the landscape workshop. He headed the workshop for the rest of his life.
Kiselyov traveled extensively in Russia. Creating sketches for his paintings, he painted from life within a specific time period. As a result, he was able to very realistically convey the beauty of Russian nature in the smallest detail.
Kiselyov created a whole series of paintings with views of the Caucasus, which were a great success with the public. In 1902, the artist built a house in Tuapse: he had been in the city before and liked the local scenic views. Nowadays, the Kiselyov House-Museum is located in Tuapse.
The artist painted ‘Dacha in the Crimea’ in 1906. The picture was included into a series of works featuring quiet and harmonious nature. Kiselyov depicted the dacha (country house) realistically and paid attention to every small detail: roof beams, shutters and doors, and plant leaves. The picture is painted in light colors and has a lot of sunlight — this gives the painting a lyrical mood that the artist often perfectly captured in his landscapes.
Kiselyov was engaged in drawing from early childhood. Parents and the Cadet Corps educators were condescending to this hobby but noted his undoubted talent. In the fall of 1861, after the university’s closure due to student unrest, Kiselyov entered the Saint Petersburg Imperial Academy of Arts, the class of Sokrat Vorobyov, a famous Russian landscape painter and engraver.
In 1864, Kiselyov became a member of the Artel of Artists. A year later, he took part in the Academic Exhibition for the first time and presented the landscape “View from the Outskirts of Moscow”, which received critical and public acclaim. Soon Kiselyov left for Kharkiv and worked there as a secretary of the Land Bank. By this time, he was already married and had three children. The bank job provided the family with a stable income and allowed the artist to paint in his free time. In 1877, Kiselyov and his family moved to Moscow, but he often traveled throughout the country to make sketches for his paintings. He strove to convey the beauty of nature in different weather conditions and at different times of the year.
Kiselyov was also a teacher: he taught drawing in gymnasiums for girls, gave private painting lessons. In 1895–1897, he occupied the position of the inspector of the Higher Art School of the Academy of Arts. When the family’s financial situation improved, the Kiselyovs moved to Saint Petersburg. In 1897, Professor Arkhip Kuindzhi left the Academy, and Kiselev took his position as the head of the landscape workshop. He headed the workshop for the rest of his life.
Kiselyov traveled extensively in Russia. Creating sketches for his paintings, he painted from life within a specific time period. As a result, he was able to very realistically convey the beauty of Russian nature in the smallest detail.
Kiselyov created a whole series of paintings with views of the Caucasus, which were a great success with the public. In 1902, the artist built a house in Tuapse: he had been in the city before and liked the local scenic views. Nowadays, the Kiselyov House-Museum is located in Tuapse.
The artist painted ‘Dacha in the Crimea’ in 1906. The picture was included into a series of works featuring quiet and harmonious nature. Kiselyov depicted the dacha (country house) realistically and paid attention to every small detail: roof beams, shutters and doors, and plant leaves. The picture is painted in light colors and has a lot of sunlight — this gives the painting a lyrical mood that the artist often perfectly captured in his landscapes.
