Alexey Stepanovich Stepanov was a Russian painter and graphic artist who worked mainly in the genres of landscape and animalier art.
The artist was born in Simferopol in 1858. His father was a nobleman by birth, a military officer, and a participant in the Crimean War. Alexey Stepanov studied at the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture. One of his teachers was Illarion Mikhailovich Pryanishnikov. In 1884, for his graduate work “Father and Son, or a Military Conversation” Alexey Stepanov was awarded the Grand Silver Medal and the title of class artist.
While still a student, he started regularly participating in exhibitions. Later, he joined the Society for Traveling Art Exhibitions and co-founded the Union of Russian Artists. He also taught the class of animalistic painting at his alma mater.
Nowadays, Alexey Stepanov’s works are kept at the State Tretyakov Gallery, in regional museums, small art galleries throughout Russia, and private collections.
Impeccably conveying the condition of animals, the
artist always strove to improve the depiction of animal figures and individual
details, constantly making sketches from different angles. By using his
sketches, he was able to demonstrate the condition and habits of animals in his
paintings.