Vasily Kuzmich Shebuyev (Russian: Васи́лий Козьми́ч Шебу́ев; April 13 [O.S. April 2] 1777, in Kronstadt – June 28 [O.S. June 16] 1855[3], in Saint Petersburg) was a Russian painter, State Councilor and Rector at the Imperial Academy of Arts.[4]

Vasily Shebuyev
Василий Козьмич Шебуев
Self-portrait (1805)
a fragment of the painting "Divination"
Born(1777-04-02)April 2, 1777
DiedJune 16, 1855(1855-06-16) (aged 78)
Resting placeSmolensky Cemetery, St. Petersburg
Alma materImperial Academy of Arts (1797)
Known forPainting
StyleClassicism, Academism
ElectedMember Academy of Arts (1807)

Biography

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His father was of noble lineage and served as the ranking custodian of materiels at the Admiralty Board. His artistic abilities were noticed early and he began taking lessons at the Imperial Academy as soon as he was old enough. In 1794, he officially became a student there, studying under Ivan Akimov and Grigory Ugryumov.[5] He won a silver after his first year, and a gold medal the year following. In 1797, he graduated with a first degree certificate. He immediately became an assistant teacher and, a year later, was entrusted with teaching drawing to younger students.

In 1803, he was sent on a fellowship to study in Rome,[5] where he practiced copying the old masters and made anatomical drawings from observing dissections. Three years later, he was recalled to Saint Petersburg to participate in decorating the Kazan Cathedral.[5] After that, his life became devoted to the Academy. He was named an Academician in 1807, rose through the ranks, and eventually became Rector of Painting and Sculpture in 1832.[5] Ten years later his title became the "Honored Rector". In 1831, he used his anatomical drawing experience to create anatomy textbooks for art students. Among those who studied under him at the Academy, one may name Karl Briullov, Alexander Ivanov, Fyodor Bruni and Pyotr Basin.[4]

In addition to his responsibilities there, he was appointed Director of the Imperial Tapestry Manufactory in 1831,[5] having earlier been made a Court Painter in 1823, in which capacity he oversaw the creation of the church canopy at Tsarskoye Selo.[4] He was also named Supervisor of Paintings for Saint Isaac's Cathedral in 1844.

Works

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References

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  1. ^ "Gosudarstvennai͡a Tretʹi͡akovskai͡a galerei͡a: Zhivopisʹ pervoĭ poloviny XIX veka" (in Russian). 2005.
  2. ^ "Шебуев, Василий Козьмич". Русский биографический словарь (in Russian). Vol. 23. 1911. p. 5.
  3. ^ "ШЕБУЕВ • Большая российская энциклопедия - электронная версия" (in Russian). Other sources give the date of death as June 17 [O.S.][1] or June 18 [O.S.].[2]
  4. ^ a b c "Шебуев, Василий Кузьмич". Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary: In 86 Volumes (82 Volumes and 4 Additional Volumes) (in Russian). St. Petersburg: F. A. Brockhaus. 1890–1907.
  5. ^ a b c d e RusArtNet: Biography
  6. ^ Ready sketch of the ceiling for the Church of St. Catherine in the Imperial Academy of Arts.

Further reading

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  Media related to Vasily Shebuyev at Wikimedia Commons