Konstantin Makovsky

Biography

Konstantin Egorovich Makovsky was born on June 20, 1839, in Moscow. He was a Russian painter and graphic artist known as a follower of late academicism and realism. Konstantin Makovsky belonged to a family of notable artists: he was the younger brother of Alexandra Makovskaya and the elder brother of Nikolai and Vladimir Makovsky. Additionally, he was the father of the poet Sergey Makovsky and the artist Elena Luksh-Makovskaya. A significant chapter in his creative life was his participation in the “Revolt of the Fourteen,” a movement of young artists advocating for the renewal of artistic life. He became one of the founding members of the Saint Petersburg Artist’s Artel and the Society of Itinerant Exhibitors, important associations of Russian artists in the post-reform era. Makovsky was an academician, professor, and full member of the Imperial Academy of Arts. His work covers various genres, including portraiture; notably, he painted the “Portrait of Grand Duke Alexei.” Konstantin Egorovich Makovsky passed away on September 17, 1915, in Saint Petersburg. His activity left a significant mark on the history of Russian realism and academicism as well as on the cultural life of the Russian Empire.