The Venetsianov family originated from Greece
The artist's great-grandfather Fyodor Proko, together with his wife and son, emigrated from Greece to Russia in the 1730s–1740s and settled in the Chernigov Governorate. There they acquired the nickname 'Venetsiano', which later became the surname 'Venetsianov'. The artist's father was a merchant of the 2nd guild, and his mother was the daughter of merchant Lukyan Kalinin. The family was engaged in trade, selling currants, tulip bulbs and paintings.
Moved from Moscow to St. Petersburg
In 1802 Venetsianov went to Saint Petersburg. To make a living he placed an advertisement in the papers offering his services as a portraitist. The ad brought no results — the capital, flooded with foreign artists and graduates of the Academy of Arts, was too competitive. Lacking education and patronage, the artist took a job as a draftsman in the postal chancery.
Studied painting under Borovikovsky
Alexey Venetsianov never received academic training, but he studied painting under the master of Russian portraiture and academician of the Imperial Academy of Arts, Vladimir Borovikovsky. Borovikovsky lodged the young artist in his home, obtained permission to copy exhibits from the Hermitage, and introduced him to the right people. Gradually Venetsianov began to receive steady commissions.
Published a caricature magazine
Venetsianov published a popular caricature magazine, but he had to suffer from state censorship. In one issue the magazine featured a caricature of a nobleman looking contemptuously at a wounded soldier and a starving widow. State authorities saw a threat to the state order in the caricature, and the magazine was closed by the personal order of Alexander I.
Received the official title of artist without formal education
For a person without higher artistic education there was only one way to obtain the official title — to submit a work to a competition. In 1811 Venetsianov submitted his self-portrait to the competition and luck smiled on him: the Academy appreciated the harmonious composition, the balanced color palette and the portrait's character. Venetsianov also splendidly handled the second task — to paint the portrait of the inspector of the Academy's Educational School, K.I. Golovachevsky. After that the master received the title of artist.
Became a landowner and owner of an estate
After his marriage Venetsianov left metropolitan life and acquired the Safonkovo estate in the Tver Governorate. The artist studied estate management and took a lively interest in peasant life. The move determined a new direction in Venetsianov's work. The central themes of his art became portraits and genre scenes of peasant life.
Opened his own art school
Venetsianov founded his own art school where he taught talented peasant children. He graduated more than seventy pupils, among whom later appeared well-known medalists of the Academy of Arts. Venetsianov bought some children from their owners, while others were given to the school by landlords. Venetsianov taught everyone personally. His pedagogical method forbade copying other artists' works and allowed painting only from life.
Founder of the national-romantic style
Venetsianov idealized peasant life and painted the simple life of the people, which before him had been considered unworthy of depiction. A.G. Venetsianov became best known for the paintings 'Gumno' ('The Threshing Floor'), 'The Reapers', 'Sleeping Shepherd Boy' and 'Zakharka'.
Repeatedly found himself on the brink of bankruptcy
The Safonkovo estate repeatedly came close to being sold because of the cost of buying out talented serf youths. Once the estate was saved by Alexander I's purchase of the painting 'Gumno'; another time Venetsianov had to send his eldest daughter to train as a governess. The artist repeatedly petitioned for a teaching position at the Academy, but his request was never granted.
Died as a result of an accident
Venetsianov was traveling by horse-drawn carriage from his estate to Tver, where he was working on frescoes for the Trinity Church. Suddenly the horses bolted; Venetsianov grabbed the reins to control them, but his wrists became entangled and he was thrown from the carriage. He was buried in the village cemetery of Dubrovskoye (now Venetsianovo) in the Udomelsky District of Tver Oblast.
