Ivan Aivazovsky

Biography

Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky was born on July 17, 1817, in Feodosia. He was a distinguished Russian painter and graphic artist, particularly famous as a marine artist of the 19th century. In addition to marine art, Aivazovsky worked in landscape, battle scenes, genre, historical, religious, mythological painting, and portraiture. He served as an artist for the Main Naval Staff of the Russian Empire and held the rank of actual privy councilor. Aivazovsky was also an academician, professor, and honorary member of the Imperial Academy of Arts, as well as an honorary foreign member of several European art societies. Some of his most notable works include 'The Ninth Wave,' 'The Brig Mercury Attacked by Two Turkish Ships,' and 'Night on the Island of Rhodes.' Besides his artistic career, Ivan Aivazovsky was an art collector and philanthropist. He passed away on April 19, 1900, in Feodosia. His younger brother was Gavriil Aivazovsky, a historian and archbishop of the Armenian Church.