Portrait of Sergei Volkonsky

1820s

Portraits of professors and Moscow dignitaries

Tropinin works on portraits of university professors and notable people of Moscow; his likenesses of leading dignitaries adorn the halls of the Guardianship Council, the Horse-Racing Society, the Agricultural Society and others. Among his sitters are heroes of the Patriotic War of 1812: the English painter Dawe used these portraits as iconographic material for the Military Gallery of the Winter Palace.

May 1823

Receives his letter of manumission

Yielding to public opinion, Count Morkov gives Tropinin his freedom as an Easter present at the age of 43: young noblemen had publicly demanded liberty for the gifted serf, and a certain Dmitriev, having won a large sum from the count at cards, is said to have offered at the English Club to exchange the debt for Tropinin’s freedom. The artist’s wife and son remain in bondage.

1823

Declines to stay in Morkov’s house

Morkov offers him to stay in his house and promises to seek a post for him in the military department, but Tropinin, who had dreamed so long of independence, resolves to live on his own and to do the work he loves most — painting.

September 1823

Named an academician-designate

Having petitioned the Academy for the title of artist, Tropinin receives the title of “academician-designate” for his portrait of Yegor Skotnikov and the pictures “The Lacemaker” and “The Old Beggar”; from 1823 he is also an honorary free associate of the Academy.

spring 1824

Becomes an academician of portrait painting

In spring Tropinin comes to Petersburg and is awarded the title of academician of portrait painting; together with the rank of the 10th class in the Table of Ranks the title opens the way to state service, and his standing in society rises.

1824

Paintings at the Academy exhibition

At the same time Tropinin shows his pictures at the Academy’s exhibition and wins the recognition of fellow artists and art lovers.