Russian painter, teacher, organizer and leader of the Arzamas school of painting (1802-1861) was the first in Russia provincial art schools.
In 1787 was apprenticed to icon-painting workshop, in 1799, came to St. Petersburg and enrolled as a student at the Academy of fine arts. Having completed the course in 1805, with a diploma of II degree, and returned to Arzamas, and made there drawing school - the first and for a long time the only private institution of its kind in Russia. In 1809, the Academy took the school under its wing, has awarded its founder and leader the title of academician, and from that time supported him by sending originals and casts for copying by pupils of the school and the best results from them consolation silver medals. The school lasted only 45 years, produced many outstanding artists (including N. Alekseeva , I. Gorbunov, V. Raev, V. Perov). Ran the school first one Stupin himself engaged in her teaching with the help of a hired tutor some of the elementary Sciences, but in 1836, he handed it to the superintendence of his former pupil N. Alekseev. In 1842, the house and the Stupin school was badly damaged by fire. Shortly after the death Stupin Arzamas art school was closed.
In 1822 Stupin was engaged in design under construction on the territory of Nizhny Novgorod fair Saviour Cathedral.
The life of Alexander V. Stupin — a separate Chapter in the history of Russian art. As a painter he is little known. "Written by the same small number of paintings, but wrote and drew almost everything himself and corrected after the students with paints, why, and lacked time..." wrote the founder of Russia's first private Arzamas art school, where great Russian patriot will devote his life.
Early loss of parents, constant poverty and humiliation at the service of young "people" — nothing could stop the desire of young men to the artistic skill and desire of a Mature man, to the promotion of Russian fine art in the depth of the Fatherland. And perhaps not embodied the aspirations of the AV Stupin in reality, if that did not help his foster mother was illiterate, poor, but kind and intelligent Russian woman, Anisya Ivanovna.
In 1800, AV Stupin reserves at the time of the family in Arzamas and goes to art education in St. Petersburg, where he became a "foreign student" of the Academy of arts. The greatest influence on young Stupin had I. A. Akimov, and A. E. Egorov (Stupin said: "Egorov was strong in the pencil, and the Governors well and eloquently told and interpreted theoretically about painting").
In 1802, AV Stupin received the title of artist, and even was presented to the President of the Academy of arts of A. S. Stroganov. In Arzamas young artist returned with a considerable amount donated by friends and teachers of art and allowances. In the same 1802 opened a school Stupin, which operated for several decades and has played a crucial role in the artistic culture of the country.
In 1845 A. V. Stupin, by the time the academician, was awarded the Academy of arts "for the dissemination of art in the country and for the fortieth anniversary of the existence of his school." For its success, the citizen of Russia A. V. Stupin worked until the last days of his long life.