Koehler-Viliandi Ivan Petrovich (1826-1899)

Academician (since 1861) and Professor (since 1867) of the Russian Imperial Academy of Arts Ivan Kohler, born near the city of Fellini in Livonia, began his career in the visual arts with writing signs.
Having some experience in the art of painting, he in 1846 arrived in St. Petersburg and two years of earning their daily bread. Only in 1848 he was able to visit the Academy of Fine Arts, where, under the guidance of Professor AT Markov has made ​​rapid progress. His student work "Hercules displays Cerberus from hell" and "Saul at Endor sorceress measured small and large gold medals."

In 1857, J. Koehler as a pensioner of the Society for Promotion of artists sent to improve their skills abroad. After returning to Russia begin stellar years of the artist. He writes a lot of portraits of dignitaries. Among them - the image of Emperor Alexander II and Alexander III, president of the Academy of Arts of Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich of Russia Chancellor (and former schoolmate of Pushkin at the Lyceum) Prince AM Gorchakov.

But no single portraits wrote IP Koehler. Among his works, and the image of the church and the paintings of biblical scenes, and landscapes, genre paintings, and even images of nude female nature. Committed IP Koehler and public good works, arranging personal exhibitions in favor of the needy.