BRUNI Fyodor Antonovich (Fidelio Giovanni)

December 15, 1801 (Milan) - August 30, 1875 (St. Petersburg)

painter and graphic artist.

born in the family of artist-decorator, a Swiss citizen, an Italian by nationality A. Baroffi-Bruni. In 1807, together with his father, invited the Russian service, moved to St. Petersburg. In 1809 was admitted to the IAH, originally consisted of "paying students student" (ie, to pay tuition fees), from 1814 - kazennokoshtnym student. Engaged in a class of historical painting in VK Shebuyev, AE Egorov, AI Ivanov. In 1813 for drawing from nature "Two fighter" was a small silver medal. In 1818 he completed the software now on the small gold medal of "Samson and Delilah", but was not awarded. In the same year, released from the Academy with the certificate of degree 1 for the title of the class artist.

the spring of 1819 at his own expense went to Italy, he settled in Rome. He was a circle of Princess ZA Volkonskaya. I also felt an impact on their creativity AA Ivanov and nazareytsev. In 1824 exhibited in the Capitol painting "Death of Camilla, sister of Horace", which brought the artist to European fame. Soon Bruni was elected a member of the Academy of St. Luke. From 1826 to order Society for the Promotion of artists involved in engraving technique of etching his compositions on subjects of "History of the State Rossiyskogo" NM Karamzin (published in 1939 in St. Petersburg in the form of two notebooks). In 1828 for copies of the frescoes by Raphael The Triumph of Galatea "and" Exile Heliodoro of the temple has received a pension from the Russian government.

In 1834 he was awarded the title of academician. In 1833-1834 began working on the painting "The Bronze Serpent". In 1836, by order of Nicholas I called to St. Petersburg to teach at IAH, was appointed professor of 2 nd degree of historical and portrait painting. Took part in the decoration of the church of the Winter Palace. In 1837 completed drawing "A. Pushkin in the coffin ", which translated into a lithograph.

In 1838 again went to Italy, where he worked on the completion of the picture "The Bronze Serpent", in 1841 introduced the canvas in St. Petersburg - in the Winter Palace and the halls of IAH. In 1841-1845 created the sketches and cartoons 25 tracks for the decoration of St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg. In 1845 he returned to Russia, until 1855 was engaged in paintings of the cathedral. In parallel, he taught at IAH. In 1849-1851 was a member of the Commission on the device and the management mosaic institution of the Academy. In 1855 was appointed rector of the IAH. In 1849-1864 served as curator of the Hermitage art gallery, was engaged in, among other things replenishment meeting, which in 1850 made a trip to The Hague, also traveled to Paris and Italy.

son of a painter, Yu F. Bruni (1843-1911) - architect and painter, great-grandchildren: T. Bruni - designer, N. , A. Bruni - painter and mozaichist.

Feodor Antonovich Bruni - an outstanding master of the academic trend in Russian art, life-long rival in popularity with K. Bryullov, but nevertheless remained "in its shadow. He was one of the best painters of his time, master of strict, laconic, almost the linear pattern. Creativity Bruni, as Brullov, located at the junction of classicism and romanticism. However, the classic features - a focus on the art of the High Renaissance, especially Raphael, - there are still a dominant.

apt remark by Alexander Benois, "Bruni on the magnificence of his seasoned and almost flawless craftsmanship leaves far behind the uneven ... Briullov, but in turn gives ... Briullov in temperament ..."

most significant collection of works by the artist has the State Russian Museum, some works are represented in the collections of the State Tretyakov Gallery, Pushkin Museum im. Pushkin and others.