Losenko Anton Pavlovich

July 30, 1737 (Glukhov Chernigov province) - November 23, 1773 (St. Petersburg)

painter and graphic artist.

occurred from a merchant family. In early childhood, orphaned. In 1744 was passed in the court choir in St. Petersburg. In August 1753 was dismissed from the choir as "sleeping with the voice" and sent to study painting to IP Argunov. In 1758-1760 he studied at the IAH in L.-ZH. Le Lorrain, J.-L. de Valley, L.-ZH.-F. Lagrenee. At the same time began teaching at the Academy. In September 1760 as a pensioner of the Academy moved to Paris where he perfected his skills under the guidance of the Director of the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture J. Resta. Autumn 1762 due to II Shuvalov in Russia. In the same year, promoted to associate. In 1763, again went to Paris, he studied with JM Vien. Enjoy the protection of the Russian ambassador in Paris, Prince Dmitry Golitsyn, in whose house he lived for some time. In 1763, 1764, 1765 honored with the silver medals of the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture of the drawings.

From 1765 to 1769 was in Italy. In 1769 he returned to Russia. In the same year for painting "Abel" and "Cain", as well as a copy of Raphael's Vatican frescoes of "Justice" was awarded the title of "appointed" in academics. In 1770, for the painting "Vladimir and Rogneda was elected an academician, was appointed associate professor in the same year - a professor of IAH. From 1770 until his death led the class of historical painting. Among his pupils - IA Akimov, AP Sokolov. In 1772, along with N. Gillet served as director of the Academy.

in 1772 wrote a "brief explanation of the proportion of people based on the credibility of research, different proportions of the ancient statues ... for the benefit of young people who exercised in drawing," which served as a textbook for several generations of students of the Academy of Arts.

In 1987-1988 the State Russian Museum in Leningrad was a retrospective exhibition of works by the artist.

Losenko - an outstanding Russian painter and draftsman of early classicism. His creative output is small, but active period of artistic activity has only about fifteen years. To Him belong the laurels of the founder of historical painting in Russia. Among the most famous canvases by the master - "Zeus and Thetis" (1769), "Vladimir and Rogneda" (1770), "Hector Parting from Andromache" (1773). In addition to historical painting was engaged portraits created in this area several outstanding works, including portraits of II Shuvalov, AP Sumarokova (both - 1760), Grand Duke Paul Petrovich in childhood, FG Volkov (both - 1763).

individual style decorative features of Art and the artist's inherent in some archaic artistic techniques typical of many masters of the mid XVIII century (to a lesser degree this was manifested in the portrait). However, in a picturesque vocabulary, there is no such obvious signs of transition from the medieval to the new system, as in IY Vishnyakova, AP Antropov, IP Argunova . Losenko introduced new relationships between space-spatial image of man and the linear-rhythmic structure of the cloth, he gravitated toward more complex and more natural interpretation of the face and hands, although it has not reached the degree of flickering of living matter, which is in the works of his contemporary, F. C . Rokotov.

Losenko works are in many museum collections, including the State Tretyakov Gallery, State Russian Museum, Pushkin Museum im. Pushkin, the Scientific Research Museum of Russia Academy of Arts.