Alexander Andreyevich Ivanov - the outstanding Russian artist, landscapist and portraitist, was born on July, 16th (28), 1806 in Petersburg, into the family of the professor of historical painting Andrey Ivanovich Ivanov. 

Alexander owned his initial training in drawing and painting to his father, who also greatly influenced his further development as an artist. In 1817, at the age of eleven, Alexander entered the Petersburg Academy of Arts as a free-attending student and was an amazingly great success there.

From 1831 to 1858 he constantly lived in Italy.

The feat of his life was the 20 years of work on the huge masterpiece The Appearance of Christ before the People (1837-1857, kept in the Tretyakov Gallery). Creation of the grandiose canvass (40 sq. m.) was preceded by enormous preparatory work. The artist had made more than 600 etudes and sketches, including drawings.

Alexander Ivanov returned home in 1857. A.A. Ivanov’s life was suddenly cut short: he died of cholera on July, 3rd (15), 1858 in Petersburg. A.A.Ivanov’s grave is in the Artists’ corner at the Tikhvin Cemetery of the Alexander Nevski Monastery.