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Aleksei Venetsianov

Born: Moscow, 18 February 1780
Died: , 4 January 1847
Nationality: Greek-Russian
Background: 

son of impoverished Greek merchant

Studies: 

attended boarding school; trained as forest surveyor; with Vladimir Borovikovsky at St Petersburg Academy (1802-10); copied paintings at Hermitage

Career: 

worked as forest surveyor

1810 - named Distinguished Associate of St Petersburg Academy

1819 - buys village of Safonkovo in Tver province

1820 - moves to estate in Safonkovo and focuses on peasant subjects

1824 - sells The Threshing Floor for a high price (5,000 roubles) and establishes art school for impoverished children with proceeds; appointed Court Painter by Nicolas I (Tsar of Russia) 

1847 - dies in carriage accident

Important Artworks: 

Self-Portrait, 1811 (Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow)

Harvesting, Summer, 1820s (Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow)

Cutting Hay, 1820s (Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow)