1806. | 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES Of RUSSIAN’ 
ARTISTS of the laft, and the Beginning 
of the prefent CENTURY. 
PAINTERS. 
ATWEJEW, a portrait-painter, 
was indebted for all his fortune to 
the Emperor Petcr the Great, who even 
difcovered the talent he poffeffed. Being 
one day in the church of St. Sophia at 
Nowogorod, he perceived a little boy who 
had his eye fixed ftedfaftly upon him, and 
was engaged in taking his portrait ona 
piece of paper. The Emperor was cu- 
rious to learn who he was: when the fer- 
vice was over, he fent for him, and afked 
what he had been doing. ‘I have heard 
fo many excelieat things of you, (replic 
the child,) that I refolved to draw your 
portrait, that I might have your image 
conftantly before my eyes.”” Peter, con- 
ceiving that he poflefled talents for paint- 
ing, afked him if he was inclined to learn 
to draw? Matwejew anfwered, that it 
was for this profeffion he was deftined. 
The Emperor then fent him to Holland. 
It is not known who was his mafter ; but 
he became in time a very fkilful portrait- 
painter. His moft efteemed werks are, 
the portrait of Peter the Great, «hich is 
faid to be the belt likenefs ever taken of 
that great man ; the portrait of the Em- 
prefs Anne, as large as life; his own por- 
trait, and that of his wife. Matwejew 
was born in 1704 3 he fet cut on his tra- 
vels in 1719, and returned to his native 
country in 1732. 
Nicklin, a portrait-painter, was fent by 
Peter the Great to Italy, where he profe- 
cuted his ftudies. From that country he 
went to Paris, where-he praétifed fome 
time under Largiligres. There are feve- 
ral portraits by him, among which that 
of Baron Gregorewitfch Stroganow 1s 
molt highly efteemed. 
Gabriel Koflow, an hiftorical painter. 
He ftudied under Valeriani, and was em- 
ployed in 1762 at the Academy of Arts 
at St. Peterfburg. Among his perfor- 
mances that _reprefenting Zephyrus and 
Flora is particularly dif inguithed, It is 
in the collegtion of Count Bruce. ‘There 
are alfo feveral Holy Families, and a St. 
Peter by him. His allegorical defigns and 
his ornaments were what he was molt 
efteemed for. He died in 1791. 
‘Anthony Lofenko, a hiltory-painter, 
was admitted in 1759 into the Academy 
of Arts, who fent him to Italy and France, 
wheie he exercifed bis talen:s. His 
fketches are in great requeft. His molt 
admired pieces are, the portrait sf the 
z 
Bingraphical Notices of Ruffian Artifts. 
399 
Princefs Potozka, and the Parting of Hec- 
tor and Andromache. After being ap 
pointed Direétor of the Academy of Arts, 
he died in 1773. 
Peter Sokolow, another hiftory-painter, 
pofleffed great talents ; but for want of 
Knowing the bent of his own genius, he 
confined himfelf principally to imitations 
of the manner of Pompeo Battoni, to 
which it was adapted perhaps the leaft of 
any. He died in 1791. 
Matwej Put{chinin. Two of his pieces, 
the Refurrection of Jefus Chrift, and Alex- 
ander’s Vifit to Diogenes, laid the founda- 
tion of great hopes, which however were 
not realized. Ashe exerted himflf ta 
eftablifh a manufacture of tapeltry, all his 
time was facrificed to that object. He 
died in 1797, at a very advanced age. 
Ritt, a miniature-painter, was a pupil 
of the Academy of Peterfburg. He af- 
terwards went to Paris. On. his retura 
to St. Peterburg he principally employed 
himfelf in painting portraits. He died in 
1799: 
Waffili Rotfchew, adjun& profeffor of 
painting. On his return from Rome he 
exhibited his bef& pi€ture, Androcles con- 
cealing himfelf from the Lion. His in- 
firm health prevented him from engaging 
in works of magnitude. He died in 
1803. 
ARCHITECTS, 
During the fra half of the 18th century 
Peterfburg had only foreign architeéts, 
After that period the Ruflians began to 
tread in their fleps, and to form them- 
felves in that art. 
Andrew Graflini fuperintended the erec- 
tion of the fort of St. Peter and St. Paul, 
and of all the other palaces and buildings 
in the vicinity of the city. He was like- 
wife the architect of almof all that part 
of Peterfburg called Waffili Oftrog. 
Maderni direéted the conftruction of 
Ifaac’s church in 17187. 
Jeropkin had, in 1730, the management 
of the edifices in Wafiili Oftrog, inthe place 
of Graffini. The church of the Bleffed 
Virgin of Cafan is likewile thought to 
have been by him. , 
Michael Semzow was the archite& of 
the churches of St. Simcow and of the 
Prophetefs Anne at Peterfburg. 
Waihili Bafchenow was a pupil of the 
Academy of Mofcow, by whom he was 
fent to travel in fereign countries. On 
his return in 1765 he was nominated aca- 
demician. He projected a plan for ree 
building the palace of Kremli ac Mofcow. 
He likewife ereéted the palace of Zuritzin 
in the Gothic taflie; but this ftru&ture 
wae 
