PIMENOV Nikolai Stepanovich

November 24, 1812 (St. Petersburg) - December 4, 1864 (St. Petersburg)

sculptor, painter, graphic artist.

Born the son of renowned sculptor, Professor IAH S. Pimenov. Original art education was under the leadership of his father. In 1824 joined the IAH, he learned from his father and BI Orlovsky. From 1829 worked in the class sculptural figures and ornaments in SI Galberga. During the study took all the existing awards: in 1829 - a small silver medal for drawing in 1831 - a large silver in 1832 - another big silver for the relief of Jupiter and Mercury visit Baucis and Philemon, "in 1833 for the relief of given by the Academy program "Hector accuses Paris of inaction against the Greeks besieging Troy" - a small gold. Released from the academy with a certificate of degree 1 for the title of the class artist. After completing the course on at IAH retired for three years.

Took part in the sculptural decoration of the Senate in St. Petersburg, where he graduated from the facade of the statue "Law" and "Justice" left unfinished after the death of his father. In 1836 the program was to capture one "of the Russian indigenous customs", presented to the Council of the Academy of the work "The guy who plays a grandmother." The product has brought fame to the young sculptor, Alexander Pushkin replied to it impromptu. Pimenov was awarded a large gold medal and became entitled to a pensioner's trip abroad for six years.

In 1837 went to Italy. Visited Prague and Munich. Winter months spent in Vienna, 1837-1838. In the spring of 1838 settled in Florence. The advice of the Florentine sculptor Bartolini L.. In 1844, performed in Italy and was sent to St. Petersburg statue "The boy begging was elected an academician. At the end of pensionerstva from 1845 to 1850 remained in Florence, where he was charged with monitoring the selection and supply of marble for St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg.

In 1850 he returned to his homeland. Participated in the design of St. Isaac's Cathedral. In 1854, for the sculptural group "The Transfiguration" and "Resurrection" made for small iconography of the temple, was awarded the title of professor of sculpture. In 1855, after the death of Ivan Vitali was appointed full-time professor in the sculptural class IAH. Among his pupils - Fyodor Kamensky, NA Laveretsky, II Podozerov, MP Popov and others. He was a member of the Academy. Exhibited their work at academic fairs.

worked both in the field of monumental and easel sculpture. He created a monument to Admiral MP Lazarev in Sevastopol (opened in 1867), Field Marshal Prince Mikhail Vorontsov in Tiflis (opened in 1867), Field Marshal Prince Ivan Paskevich in Warsaw (opened in 1870). Participated in competitions for the Monument to Ivan Krylov in St. Petersburg (1849) and Alexander Pushkin in Moscow (1862). In 1840 he worked on the project "Fontana heroes" for one of the squares of Moscow, as well as on the sketches and project teams to decorative ornaments of the Annunciation of the bridge in St. Petersburg (both not implemented). In 1859 completed a bust of Nicholas I for the building of the St. Petersburg Stock Exchange. Created gravestones Nelidova in Kursk (1846) and Orlov in Florence (1846-1850). From 1860 on the orders of the Naval Ministry performed a model wooden sculptures for the bow of the ships of the Navy.

some small portrait statues Pimenova: "Seated young man with a cane," Portrait of AV Loganovsky "(both - 1844)," Portrait of an unknown in the chair "(1845) and others.

Retrospective exhibitions were held in 1873 master and 1914 in the halls of IAH in St. Petersburg.

Pimenov - one of the most important Russian artists of the mid XIX century, whose art reflected all the major trends of Russian sculpture of the time. His early work is in line with academic traditions, while even then the interest can be traced to the master of national and domestic issues, which was new to the art 1830. In 1840 the dominant role is played by the work of genre. They clearly picking up the realistic trends in the talent of the sculptor. In his easel statuettes, Pimenov seeks not only to the psychological nature of the disclosure of their models, but also a living expression and specifically in the transfer situation and locale. Almost simultaneously with realistic portraits and genre painting, he created a completely different type of work. For his monumental sculptures 1840 - 1850 has some eclectic artistic language, the pretentious and the complexity of composite construction, tendency towards allegory and overly detailed narrative. Only in the later works of 1860 - projects monuments Paskevich, Vorontsov, Lazarus - you can note the return to the simplicity of art-making. In general, creativity Pimenova outlined the main directions of development of Russian sculpture in the second half of XIX century.

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