Fedor Yakovlevich Alekseev
(1753-1824)

FY Alexeev - the first in the Russian master paintings of the urban landscape.

 In 1766 - 73 years. studied at the Academy of Fine Arts, first in class "painting flowers and fruit", then in the landscape. In 1773, for the software landscape has received a gold medal and was sent for three years in Venice studying painting theatrical scenery, though it did not comply with his inclinations.

 In Venice, Alekseev exploring its famous landscape painters A. Canale, F. Guardi enjoys species and fantastic engravings of Piranesi, DB, who lived in Rome. This young artist incur the displeasure of the academic authorities.

 On his return Alexeyev met quite reserved, he not only did not offer any program to receive academic title, but also forced to work in the theater decorator School (1779-86). Leave unloved service by copying the artist managed landscapes A.Kanale, B. Bellotto, G.Robera and Zh.Berne from the Hermitage. Copies Alexeyev, creatively reproducing itself picturesque original system had incredible success. They brought the artist fame "of the Russian Canaletto" and welcome the opportunity to go to the writing of the original landscape.

 Among his works of the 1790s. especially known for "Peter and Paul Fortress and the Palace Embankment" (1793) and "View of the Palace Embankment from the Peter and Paul Fortress" (1794). Alekseev creates a sublime cast in perfect shape (in accordance with the laws of classical), and at the same time the living image of the big, majestic, an individual in the beauty of the city in which a person feels as a resident of the Golden Age. Ideal and the real are here in complete equilibrium. For these pictures Alekseev receives in 1794 the title of academician perspective painting. The following year, the artist sent to New Russia and the Crimea to paint views of places visited in 1787, Catherine II. So there are landscapes of southern cities - Nikolaev, Kherson, Bakhchisarai.

In 1800, Emperor Paul I give an assignment to write Alekseev views of Moscow. The artist became interested in the old Russian architecture. He stayed in Moscow for more than a year and brought back a number of paintings and watercolors with many kinds of Moscow streets, monasteries and suburbs, but mainly - a variety of images of the Kremlin. These types differ in reliability, even documents. Moscow's works attracted many customers to Alexeyev, among which were the nobles and princes of the imperial family.

 In 1800-ies. Alekseev - is the head of the class perspective painting at the Academy of Arts (since 1802) he returned to his beloved subject Petersburg. But now a passion for holistic harmony of space paintings from the artist changed a great interest in the world of people and their lives against the background of the same beautiful palaces and wide Neva River. His work has appeared as if the noise of the city. People with their daily activities now occupy the entire front blades. Shapes became clearer, bulkier, heavier, much warmer color, painting has become especially density. These are the "View from the Promenade des Anglais, Vasilevsky Island," "View of the Admiralty and Palace Embankment of the First Cadet Corps", "View of the Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg", "View of the Spit of Vasilevsky island of St. Peter and Paul Fortress."

 Gradually, the audience forgets the aging artist. Died this great painter, and many years of hard work to prove his right to be a landscape painter, in utter poverty, leaving a large family. The Academy was forced to give money to his funeral allowance and widow and small children.