Levitsky Dmitry Grigorievich

between 13 and 17 May 1735 (s Mayachka at Poltava, in some sources - Kiev) - April 4, 1822 (St. Petersburg)

painter and graphic artist.

born in the family priest and engraver GK Levitsky nose. Initial skills in drawing received from his father. School of painterly skill was conducted by AP Antropov, with whom, apparently, met while working on the iconostasis of St. Andrew's Church in Kiev in 1752-1755. About 1,758 arrived in St. Petersburg, he lived in the house Antropov as a pupil. Maybe he took lessons from L.-ZH.-F. Lagrenee, which in 1760-1762 was a professor of IAH, as well as in J. Valeriani and GI Kozlov.

In 1762, along with Antropov participated in the design of celebrations for the coronation of Catherine II in Moscow. He painted icons for the two Moscow Churches - Catherine the Great Martyr in Ordynka and Cyrus and John at the valve. In 1769 a portrait of the artist Kozlov and his wife recognized as "designated" in academics. In 1770, presented at the Academy of Arts six works that brought him fame. June 30 of that year, Levitsky was elected an academician of the portrait of the architect AF Kokorinov. In 1771 headed the portrait class IAH.

was one of the most popular portrait painters of his time. Repeatedly portrayed Catherine II. In 1773-1776 was commissioned by the Empress series of portraits of the pupils of the Smolny Institute. In 1776 was named adviser IAH. In 1788 he retired, the cause of which, apparently, was a conflict with the academic supervisors. In 1807, again invited to the Academy as a member of the Council. He taught in their own school. Among his pupils - VL Borovikovsky, SS Shchukin, M. Shibanov, PS Drozhdin (Drozhzhin), ED Kamezhenkov (Komyazhenkov).

In the 1790's was a Masonic lodge NI Novikova, was friendly with Nikolai Lvov, G. Derzhavin, A . F. Labzin.

In 1800 th suffered from progressive blindness and almost did not work, the last known work of masters dating 1812.

Retrospective exhibition of the artist held in 1922-1923 in the halls of the State Tretyakov Gallery, in 1985-1986 - the State Russian Museum.

Levitsky - an outstanding classical era painter whose work brought the portrait art in Russia at the level of world achievements in this field. He brilliantly used the typological possibility of a portrait for the most advantageous filing model. In the artistic heritage of the wizard is ceremonial, poluparadnye, chamber, allegorical, double, double, costume portraits, portraits, paintings of a landscape or interior. Among the best works portraits Kokorinov (1769), NA Sezemova (1770), A. Golitsyn (1772), EN Khrushchov and E. N. Khovanskaya, PA Demidov (both - 1773), GI Alymova (1776), MA Dyakova (1778), U. Mni, AD Lansky (both - 1782), FP Makerovskogo (1789), Lvov (1780-e), Novikov (1797). Images created by the artist, unique in appearance and originality of character. For his painting style is characterized by compositional diversity, richness of color. Texture smear perfectly sculpts form deep shadow backgrounds emphasizes color saturation faces and figures. Levitsky sought extraordinary credibility in the image of accessories and costume details, expertly conveying the softness of velvet and satin fabrics, subtle lace, glitter decorations and jewelry. Despite the material tangibility pictorial images Levitsky, they always present mysterious, hidden secret, the depth of inner life. At the same time "type Levitsky" differs from the unsaid, subtle images of his contemporary F. Rokotov its concreteness, vitality, realistic interpretation.

Levitsky works are in major museum collections, including the State Tretyakov Gallery, State Russian Museum and the Kiev Museum of Russian Art and others.