Simon (Pimen) Ushakov

Painter, decorator, engraver, jeweller, writer. Born in Moscow (1626). Began working at the Armoury as a silversmith (1648). Following his appointment as royal icon-painter, took over as head of the Armoury icon-painting workshop (1664–86). Decorated the interiors of churches and created book miniatures. Painted parsuni (portraits) of Tsar Alexis Mikhailovich, decorated palace fittings, compiled an album entitled Alphabet of the Arts and wrote a treatise on icon-painting. First artist in the history of Russian icon-painting to employ such devices of West European art as three-dimensional modelling of form and perspective. Died in Moscow (1686).