The Premier Site for Russian Culture
Painter, draughtsman, engraver, caricaturist, teacher. Born in the family of Mark Volkov in the village of Chmutovo in Nizhny Novgorod Province (1827). Studied history painting under Fidelio Bruni at the Imperial Academy of Arts (1841–61). Awarded three minor silver medals (1852, 1855, 1857), a major silver medal (1853), minor gold medal (1858), Vigée-Lebrun Medal (1860) and the title of class artist (1861). Contributed caricatures to Nikolai Stepanov’s Acquaintances album (from 1858), collaborated with the Spark satirical journal (1859–69), published and edited Painter magazine (1871–73). Member of the Society for the Encouragement of Artists, committee member of the St Petersburg Club of Artists (1863–64). Taught at the School of Drawing of the Society for the Encouragement of Artists (from 1866). Died at the age of forty-five in St Petersburg (1873). Contributed to the exhibitions of the Imperial Academy of Arts (1852, 1853, 1863, 1864).