Cultural relationship between Italy and Russia dates back to the 15th century. Beginning from the 18th century young talented artists were sent abroad at the governmental expense. Their main destination was Italy. Rich history and beautiful nature made Italy a kind of Mecca and workshop for artists from around the world. Painters from Russia were also sent to Italy to embrace the beauty of the place and refine their skills. The Russian Academy of Arts traditionally sent there only the best of their students.

Anton Ivanov (Goluboi) was born in a family of a peasant serf. The woman who was the landowner and the owner of his family, sent him for studies to an icon painting workshop, which was owned by the father of the Chernetsov brothers who were artists. The Chernetsov brothers, Grigory and Nikanor, had already graduated from the Academy of Arts by that time, and in 1836 they came back to their homeland, where they met Anton Ivanov, and saw his paintings, and bought this young talented peasant and released him out of serfdom. And then they helped him with his enrollment at the Academy of Arts as a non-credit student. In 1846, the Chernetsov brothers went abroad and took Ivanov with them. In Italy, Anton Ivanovich was improving his skills, and then decided not to return to Russia. It was there, in Italy, where he got his nickname ‘Goluboi’ (’blue’ in Russian), because he liked to wear blue vests — this was a fashionable color. And his contemporaries were able to distinguish him from his namesake, who also lived in Rome — the artist Alexander Ivanov.

Anton Ivanov painted his ‘Italian landscape’ after six years of living in Italy. His artistry is shown in a natural and balanced composition, in how the lighting and air environment are painted. With subtle color transitions, he created a sense of haze in the background and thus added depth to this artwork. The painting has a warm color palette and soft, tender lighting.

‘Italian landscape’ is a painting which, being taken together with other artworks by Russian artists in the 18-19th centuries, helped to create the image of Italy in Russian art. However, the artist’s entire artistic heritage has not been preserved. Some of his landscape paintings were brought to Russia from Italy, they were purchased by private collectors. There are very few paintings signed by Anton Ivanov in Russian museums.