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Ivan Aivazovsky

In this name that follows Eastern Slavic naming customs, the patronymic is Konstantinovich and the family name is Aivazovsky.

Ivan Aivazovsky
Иван Айвазовский
Self-portrait, 1874, oil on canvas, 70.5 cm × 62.5 cm (27.8 in × 24.6 in), Uffizi, Florence (not in exhibition)[1][2]
BornHovhannes Aivazian
29 July [O.S. 17 July] 1817
Feodosia, Taurida Governorate, Russian Empire
Died2 May [O.S. 19 April] 1900 (aged 82)
Feodosia, Taurida Governorate, Russian Empire
Resting placeSt. Sargis Armenian Church, Feodosia
NationalityArmenian
EducationImperial Academy of Arts (1839)
Known forPainting, drawing
MovementLate Romanticism[3]
Spouses
  • Julia Graves
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1848; div. 1877)​
  • Anna Burnazian
    ​
    (m. 1882)​
Children4
AwardsBig Gold Medal of the Imperial Academy of Arts (1837)
See below
Aivazovsky's signature in Russian, 1850
Aivazovsky's signature in Armenian on oil painting from 1899

Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky (Russian: Иван Константинович Айвазовский; 29 July [O.S. 17 July] 1817 – 2 May [O.S. 19 April] 1900) was a Russian Romantic painter who is considered one of the greatest masters of marine art. Baptized as Hovhannes Aivazian,[a] he was born into an Armenian family in the Black Sea port of Feodosia in Crimea and was mostly based there.

Following his education at the Imperial Academy of Arts in Saint Petersburg, Aivazovsky traveled to Europe and lived briefly in Italy in the early 1840s. He then returned to Russia and was appointed the main painter of the Russian Navy. Aivazovsky had close ties with the military and political elite of the Russian Empire and often attended military maneuvers. He was sponsored by the state and was well-regarded during his lifetime. The saying "worthy of Aivazovsky's brush", popularized by Anton Chekhov, was used in Russia for describing something lovely. He remains highly popular in Russia in the 21st century.[5]

One of the most prominent Russian artists of his time, Aivazovsky was also popular outside the Russian Empire. He held numerous solo exhibitions in Europe and the United States. During his almost 60-year career, he created around 6,000 paintings, making him one of the most prolific artists of his time.[6][7] The vast majority of his works are seascapes, but he often depicted battle scenes, Armenian themes, and portraiture. Most of Aivazovsky's works are kept in Russian, Ukrainian, Armenian, and Turkish museums as well as private collections.

  1. ^ Markina, Lyudmila (2017). "The Many Faces of Ivan Aivazovsky". Tretyakov Gallery Magazine. 54 (1). Archived from the original on 30 November 2020.
  2. ^ "Ajvazovskij Ivan Kontantinovic, firma". polomuseale.firenze.it (in Italian). Polo Museale Fiorentino. Archived from the original on 26 February 2023.
  3. ^ "Вера Бодунова: Айвазовский — свой среди чужих". Kommersant (in Russian). No. 137. 30 July 2016. p. 4. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Это художник, который считается поздним романтиком.
  4. ^ Harutiunian 1965, p. 89.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference 2017poll was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Leek 2012, p. 178.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Lang was invoked but never defined (see the help page).


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