Ivan Tonkov (Tankov, Tonkoi)

Painter, draughtsman, theatrical designer, teacher. Born in Smolensk (?) in the family of a subaltern officer called Mikhail Tonkov (c. 1740). Sent to St Petersburg with twenty-four other army children (1756). Studied under Matvei Puchinov and Antonio Giambattista Peresinotti at the Chancellery of Construction (1756–69), where he joined the team of painters headed by Ivan Vishnyakov (1757). Attended drawing classes at the Imperial Academy of Arts (1771–78) and designed sets for the theatre at the Imperial Academy of Arts (1771–73). Nominated to the Imperial Academy of Arts (1778), academician (1785). Painted a series of “rural festivals” (1770–79). Awarded the ranks of apprentice (1779) and master (1780s). Taught two students at the Chancellery of Construction (early 1790s), where he co-headed the team of painters along with Ivan and Alexei Belsky (1790s). Died in St Petersburg (1799). Contributed to exhibitions, including Play and Passion in Russian Fine Art at the Russian Museum in St Petersburg (1999–2000).