A professor of the Academy of Arts and one of its most popular teachers, Aleksei Tarasovich Markov was born into the family of a watch-maker in Novgorod on March, 12th (24) 1802. He got his higher education in the Academy of Arts in 1813-1824, and upon graduation stayed at the Academy.

In 1830 the painter was awarded a big gold medal and a trip abroad as a beneficiary of the Academy. In 1836 he got the rank of an academician for his painting Fortune and a Beggar and in 1842 was appointed to professorship.

After returning to Russia Aleksei Markov held professorship of historical and portrait painting in the Academy for more than three decades.

The famous St. Isaac’s Cathedral in St. Petersburg has two frescoes by Aleksei Markov: “Joseph in Egypt receives his father and brothers” (1850) and Enoch ascending into heaven (1856).

Aleksei Tarasovich Markov died on February, 28th (March, 12th) 1878 in St. Petersburg.

Aleksei had an elder brother named Michael, who was also a historical painter trained in the Academy under Shebuev. He was a very promising artist but died too early. The Hermitage Museum in Petersburg keeps his painting Roman Shepherd Boy, and in the Academy’s Museum has his copy of Raphael's Madonna of Foligno.