Mikhail Petrovich Botkin (1839-1914)

Brother Basil and Sergei Botkin - Academician of history painting, was born in Moscow in 1839, the initial training received at home and then in high school.

In 1856, he enrolled at the Academy of Fine Arts and studied painting under the guidance of prof. Zavyalova and F. Bruni . In 1858, out of the Academy and went abroad and lived for several years in Germany, France, mainly in Italy. Returning in 1863 from abroad, M.P.Botkin. exhibited at the Academy two paintings: "Bacchante with a tambourine" and "Crying in the rivers of Babylon," for which the Council of the Academy awarded him the title of Academician.

Among his historical paintings draw attention to themselves: "Wives, be looking at Calvary," "Our Lady of Sorrow" (Mater Dolorosa), "Evening in the monastery of St. Francis of Assyria," "The Return from Calvary," "Talk of Christ on the Mount Olives "" Our Lady of going to Calvary, "" The Burial of the martyr. "

In addition to historical painting M.P.Botkin. many also studied and genre. From his genre paintings mention: "Pepina", "Father Aliberti," "entered the monastery" (Noviziata), "The funeral of the first Christians in Rome," "Vespers at Assisi", "Concerto for recovering", "Old Believers pedant," " Sketch from the island of Ischia, "" Etude head "," In the mountain "," Blind "," Old Man "(sketch from nature)," Old Believer "," antique dealers "," Ancient pottery "," Portrait of SP Postnikov , "" Nuns ". In addition, M.P.Botkin wrote many personal goals and expressive figures.

In 1879 M.P.Botkin was elected a Fellow of the Academy of Fine Arts, in which position he is today. Devoted to art, M.P.Botkin devotes a lot of time on the social and artistic activities, constantly participating in public affairs Encouragement of Arts, in the various commissions and so on. In this respect, deserves special sympathy for his work as manager of the art department at the National Industrial Exhibition in Moscow in 1882, and his active participation in the apparatus of the Russian Department at the international industrial exhibition in Copenhagen in 1888.

In 1882 M.P.Botkin was appointed a member of a special ad hoc committee under the Ministry of the Court on the restoration of the court of the Annunciation Cathedral in Moscow. In 1888 he was elected a member of the Imperial. Archaeological Commission. In addition, M.P.Botkin since 1869 is a member of the German Archaeological Institute in Rome. In addition to painting, engraving has been a lot of M.P.Botkin strong vodka (eau-forte). During his many years of travel, thanks to the continuous archaeological studies, M.P.Botkin formed a very wonderful museum of art and objects of artistic industry. Its museum has a wonderful majolica, bronze, carved wood pieces from the Italian Renaissance. In addition, he owns the majority of studies and sketches Ivanov. In 1880 M.P.Botkin published a book, "Alexander Ivanov. His life and correspondence" - is exceptionally important for the history of Russian art. In historical paintings M.P.Botkin drew the attention of a beautiful composition and expressive figures and faces. M.P.Botkin is also one of our best painters.