Timm, Vasilii Fedorovich (William Fridrikhovich; Georg Wilhelm)

June 9, 1820 (borough Zorgenfrei Lifland province) - April 7, 1895 (Berlin)

painter, graphic artist, ceramist.

born in the family of the Riga mayor Friedrich Gottlieb Timm. He graduated from high school in Birkenru. In 1835 arrived in St. Petersburg, joined a volunteer in the IAH, was engaged in a battle-painting class at AI Sauerweid. In 1837 his picture "With Ulanov" was awarded a small silver medal. In the summer of 1838 along with fellow students and Sauerweid AI Kotzebue traveled in Teplice for observation places Kulmskogo battle and the Battle of Leipzig. In 1839, for successes in battle-painting was awarded a large silver medal and was promoted to the class artist. In the same year he traveled to Germany, visit Dresden and Teplitz.

Since the beginning of 1840 turned to lithography; worked in the field of book and magazine graphics. Participated in illustrating books "Our people, drawn from life Russian" (1841), "Pictures Russian mores" (1842-1843), created the illustrations for a satirical poem IP Myatlevo "Sensations and the comments of Mrs. Kurdyukova abroad, dan l `etranzhe» (1840-1844).

in 1843 attracted the attention of O. Vernet, at whose invitation to Paris. In 1844-1846 he lived and worked in France as a student Vernet. In 1844 participated in the exhibition of the Paris Salon. In 1845, together with the faithful traveled to Algeria. In 1846, returned briefly to St. Petersburg. Receiving benefits from the Cabinet of His Imperial Majesty for three years, again went to France. In Paris, collaborated with the publication of L `Illustration.

In 1848, in connection with the revolution returned to Russia. In 1849-1850 was in the army in the Caucasus. From 1851 to 1862 produced an illustrated edition of the Russian gold leaf, which was aimed at "educating all classes of the Empire».

the summer of 1852 accompanied the Emperor Nicholas I on a trip to Haapsalu, Revel and Helsingfors. In 1855 took part in the hostilities in the Crimea, was awarded the medal "For defense of Sevastopol." In the same year was awarded the title of academician of painting of the battle for the series of drawings and watercolors on the defense of Sevastopol. From 1861 he owned his own lithographic shop.

In 1867 he moved to Berlin. Many travel throughout Western Europe. In 1870 took up painted majolica. Was invited to the post of director of the Berlin Royal Porcelain Manufactory, but relinquished the position. He taught at the Prussian Academy of Arts, Professor. Left considerable epistolary heritage. He was buried in Riga.

Retrospective exhibition of the artist held in 1906 and 1951 in Riga.

Timm - one of the most prominent representatives of the artistic life of Russia in the middle of the XIX century, which has shown itself in various forms (painting, drawing, lithography, ceramics) and genres (portrait, landscape, battle and genre) of art . Best known as a publisher and became an illustrator of Russian art sheet "became a chronicle of social life 1850. On its pages emerged as a prominent genre painter, portraitist, master of reproduction and color lithographs, seeking to transfer all, "that only can be caught pencil remarkable ... in the drawings, the faithful, not imaginary, taken from nature ».

Timm works are in many museum collections, including the State Tretyakov Gallery, State Russian Museum, Pushkin Museum im. Pushkin and others. The most significant collection of works by the master has the State Art Museum of Latvia in Riga.