Fedot Vasilievich Sychkov

About museum

Fedot Vasilievich Sychkov – a Russian, Soviet painter. He was born on March 1 into a poor peasant family and lost his father at an early age. He studied at the three-grade zemstvo school in the village of Kochelaevo and showed an aptitude for drawing from childhood. He worked in an icon-painting workshop, painted frescoes in churches, and made portraits from photographs. From 1885 to 1887 he worked in Serdobsk, Penza Governorate, for the icon-painter contractor D. A. Reshetnikov. From 1887 to 1892 he lived in Kochelaevo, worked independently on painting, and painted icons and portraits of his fellow villagers.   

In 1892, commissioned by General Ivan Andreyevich Arapov, he painted the picture "The Laying of Arapovo Station." In 1892 he moved to Petersburg and enrolled in the Drawing School of the Society for the Encouragement of Arts. In 1895 he graduated from the Drawing School and became an auditor at the Higher Art School of the Academy of Arts. In 1900 he was awarded the title of artist for the painting "News from the War." In 1903 he married Lidia Vasilievna Ankudinova. F. V. Sychkov considered I. E. Repin his principal teacher.   

From April to October 1908 Sychkov traveled through Western Europe with his wife. From 1909 to 1917 Sychkov's works were repeatedly noted at Russian and international art exhibitions. In 1918–1920 he took part in organizing revolutionary celebrations in the town of Narovchat, at Arapovo station and in his native village of Kochelaevo. In 1937 F. V. Sychkov was awarded the title "Honored Art Worker of the Mordovian ASSR." In 1950 he was awarded the title "Honored Art Worker of the RSFSR," and in 1955 — "People's Artist of the Mordovian ASSR." He spent his final years living in Saransk, where he enjoyed well-deserved respect. Fedot Vasilievich Sychkov passed away on August 3, 1958.