Two Singing Boys

16 juillet 1806

Born

c. 1817

Enters the Academy of Arts at eleven

The son of the painting professor Andrei Ivanovich Ivanov, Alexander entered the Imperial Academy of Arts at eleven as an “outside” pupil, studying with the support of the Society for the Encouragement of Artists, mainly under his father, alongside Karl Bryullov.

1830

To Rome via Germany on the Society's grant

Having met the Society's condition, Ivanov left to perfect his art in Europe and, travelling through Germany with a stay in Dresden, arrived in Rome. His first Roman works were a copy of Michelangelo's Creation of Adam in the Sistine Chapel and sketches of biblical subjects.

1836

Made an academician for “Christ Appearing to Mary Magdalene”

The Appearance of Christ to Mary Magdalene after the Resurrection, conceived as a trial of strength before the great canvas, was a great success both in Rome and in St Petersburg, where it earned Ivanov the title of academician.

1858

Brings “The Appearance of Christ” to St Petersburg

Only in 1858 did Ivanov dare to send the painting to St Petersburg and come with it; the exhibition of the canvas with all its sketches and studies in a hall of the Academy of Arts made a strong impression, and his landscape studies were ahead of Russian painting of the day. The same year the artist died of cholera.

3 juillet 1858

Died