Yesterday, I stumble upon a very beautiful water colored portrait, which i later found a more interesting story behind the artist who actually drew the image way back in 1822.

About the Artist

Alexander Pavlovich Brullov also spelled Brulloff (November 29, 1798 - January 9, 1877), was a Russian artist associated with the latest phase of the Russian Neoclassicism.   Alexander Brullov was born in Saint Petersburg into a family of French artists. He and his brother Karl Brullov, are considered to be the 4th generation of artist in their blood-line.

His first teacher was his father, Paul Brulloff.   He was sent to Europe to study art and architecture as a pensioner of the Society for the Promotion of Artists; after graduating from the Imperial Academy of Arts' architect class in 1810-1820, and graduated with honors.

Along with his brother, Karl.

Alexander Brullov spent 8 years abroad from 1822 to 1830, in Italy, Germany and France, studying architecture and art.   He painted a lot of watercolor portraits at that time.

Among the best were;

• the portraits of V. A. Perovsky (1824)
• C. P. Bakunina (1830-1832)
• John Capodistria (1820s)
• C. I. Zagryazhskaya (1820s)
  • and more ...

In 1831, after his return to Russia, he was appointed professor of the Imperial Academy of Arts and these were the years when he created his best architectural projects.

Among others, he designed and built the following buildings in St. Petersburg:

• Mikhailovskiy Theater (now Maliy Theater, 1831-1833)
• Lutheran Church of St. Peter and St. Paul on Nevsky Prospekt (1833-1838)
• Pulkovo Observatory (1834-1839)
• the Headquarters of Guard Corps on Palace Square (1837-1843)
• He was one of the main architects of the reconstruction of the Winter Palace after the fire of 1837
  • He designed many striking interiors there including the following
    • Pompei Hall
    • the Malachite Room
    • the White Hall

Alexander Brulloff also made illustrations for the books and magazines.

I felt, sad for i was not able to find more information about Alexanders late years. It seems that, his last surviving work was dated 1839, which was “ Woman with a Book “.

About Some of the Artist's Work

• Count Ionnes Antonios Capo D'Istrias (1776-1831)
  • Greek statesman, president of the Greek Republic
  • was born on Corfu. In 1809-1822 was on diplomatic service in Russia
  • In 1828 he became the president of Greece
  • was assassinated in 1831 in a church at Nauplia
• Catherine Zagryazhskaya (1779-1842)
  • aunt of Natalia Pushkina
• Catherine Bakunina (1795-1869)
  • an amateur painter, took lessons from Alexander Brulloff

Italian Ruins 1822-1826, Watercolor - The Hermitage, St. Petersburg, Russia by Alexander Brulloff or Brullov.

In Memory and for his contribution to Art.

Diocletian (245-311 AD) - Roman emperor (284-305). During his reign, enormous baths were built in Rome, which are called the Baths of Diocletian

Princess Natalia Golitzina (1796-1890) - wife of Prince S. S. Golitzin. She was very wealthy, but childless, beautiful and well-known for her charitable

Natalia Pushkina (1812-1863), née Goncharova, wife of the famous Russian poet Alexander Pushkin (1799-1837). She was involved in the society intrigue, which brought about the duel between her husband and Baron D'Anthes de Heckern, in which her husband was mortally wounded and died three days later