Konstantin Dmitrjewitsch Flawitzky Paintings

Konstantin Dmitrievich Flavitsky was a Russian painter associated with the academic style of art. Born on September 29, 1830, in the city of Taganrog, in the south of Russia, Flavitsky was recognized for his historical paintings and his adherence to the principles and techniques promoted by the Imperial Academy of Arts in Saint Petersburg.

Flavitsky's education in art began at the Academy, where he was enrolled in 1847. During his time at the Academy, he was a diligent student, earning several awards and medals for his work. In 1854, he received a gold medal for his painting 'Priam Asking Achilles for the Body of Hector.' This award granted him the opportunity to study abroad, which was a common practice for talented artists of his time to refine their skills and knowledge.

After his studies abroad, Flavitsky returned to Russia, where he continued to work and develop as an artist. One of his most famous works is 'The Princess Tarakanova', painted in 1864. This painting depicts the dramatic and tragic story of Elizabeth Tarakanova, a woman who claimed to be the daughter of Empress Elizabeth of Russia and was a pretender to the Russian throne during the reign of Catherine the Great. The painting shows Tarakanova during the flood in the Peter and Paul Fortress shortly before her death in 1775. It is lauded for its emotional intensity and the technical skill with which Flavitsky captured the water and the despair of the protagonist.

Konstantin Flavitsky's career, though promising, was cut short by his untimely death. He died on August 3, 1866, at the age of 35. Despite his brief career, Flavitsky left a lasting impact on Russian art through his masterful historical paintings and his role in the development of the academic style in Russia.