SCHUKIN (Semenov) Stepan Semenovich

December 25, 1762 (Moscow) - October 10, 1828 (St. Petersburg)

painter, graphic artist, miniaturist

born in the family of Sergeant seed Petrova. In May 1765 under the name of Stepan Semenova was admitted to the Foundling Hospital in Moscow, where he taught drawing and painting D. Boberg, JF Puryshev, E. Enkovskii, A. Lomachinsky. In 1776 sent to IAH in St. Petersburg and older enrolled student in the class portrait Dmitry Levitsky. For student work double-marked silver medals. In 1882 a program of "Portraits in the picture: there are two figures with hands belt, a teacher with a teacher in their decent attire and exercise" was awarded a gold medal and received a certificate of title of the artist's 1-st degree. By the time the Academy took the name of Shchukin. In September of that year for Excellence IAH pensioner sent to France, he studied with historical painter Jean-Baptiste SEEC, an associate professor of the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture by Alexander Roslin.

In late 1786 he returned to St. Petersburg. For a portrait of the architect YM Felten was recognized as "designated" in academics and is defined in the portrait class IAH assistant Levitsky. In 1788, after Levitsky of the Academy, was appointed head of the class. In 1798-1803 also led the class of miniature painting, which then became part of the portrait. Among his pupils - VATropinin, AG Warneke, M. Terebenev and others.

In 1797 a portrait of Emperor Paul I was given the title of academician (Shchukin repeated on several occasions, and varied this work) in the same year by order of the Department of principalities the sketch portraits of Paul I and Grand Duchess Catherine Pavlovna. Since 1802 - Adviser to the IAH in 1803 - Member of the Academic Council. In 1804-1810 was drawn into the paintings in the Kazan Cathedral, which has created songs for "Annunciation", "Flight into Egypt", "Alexander Nevsky", "The Apostle Peter and others.

Shchukin - one of the leading Russian portraitist end of XVIII - the first third of the XIX century, the representative of classicism. His artistic quest are in line with the European art of this time. Shchukin painting style was formed under the influence of masters predromantizma - V. Borovikovsky and F. Rokotov. Salient features of the works are expressive silhouette, tone and color balance. In his portrait of the artist embodied the classic ideal of the personality associated with the cult of public moral values. However, the portraits there are also features of Shchukin attacking a romantic era, which was reflected in the individual for the artist to model, in an effort to convey the emotional beginning. It was promoted and the changed view of self portrait of the customer who is aware of its uniqueness, self-worth and seeking to separate his ego from the outside.

Works Shchukin are in many museum collections, including the State Tretyakov Gallery, State Russian Museum, State Hermitage Museum, and others.