Ivan Nikitich Nikitin
Biography1680 - 1742
About the artist
Ivan Nikitin's life is sadly poorly documented. He was born around 1680 in Mosco, into a priet's family. He received a proper education for his time, indicating he could read and write latin and understood grammar and mathematics. He received his first artistic education in the typographical school at the Armoury.
He was apprenticed by Gottfried Danauer, under whom he began studying the laws of perspective and painting skills. Nikitin and his brother were among twenty talented artists who were sponsored by the tsar to go to Italy for education. When Nikitin arrived in Italy he applied to the Venice Academy of Art, but he soon was transferred to Florence where he was taken under the wing of Cosimo III d'Medici. The Florence Academy of Arts was a great influence on Nikitin's artistic development.
Around 1720 Nikitin returned to St. Petersburg, with many reports on successful studies. He was assigned as master portraitist to the Tsar's court and he was given a house near the palace. We only know of three signed works of his hand, but Nikitin was a leading figure in the establishment of eighteenth century Russian portraiture nonetheless. Nikitin passed away in 1742.
He was apprenticed by Gottfried Danauer, under whom he began studying the laws of perspective and painting skills. Nikitin and his brother were among twenty talented artists who were sponsored by the tsar to go to Italy for education. When Nikitin arrived in Italy he applied to the Venice Academy of Art, but he soon was transferred to Florence where he was taken under the wing of Cosimo III d'Medici. The Florence Academy of Arts was a great influence on Nikitin's artistic development.
Around 1720 Nikitin returned to St. Petersburg, with many reports on successful studies. He was assigned as master portraitist to the Tsar's court and he was given a house near the palace. We only know of three signed works of his hand, but Nikitin was a leading figure in the establishment of eighteenth century Russian portraiture nonetheless. Nikitin passed away in 1742.
