Son apprentice Peterhof lapidary works. In 1764 was passed the first set of Educational school of the St. Petersburg Academy of arts. He studied in the class of historical painting. For the drawings from nature was awarded a small silver (1773) and a silver (1777) medals. In 1778 for the program "Curse of ham" received a small gold medal, in 1779 for the program "the Prophet Elijah resurrects the son of a widow" – a gold medal. In 1779 as a pensioner AH was sent to Paris, where he studied under the direction of L.-J.-F. Lagrenée the Elder. For the painting "Murder of Abel" and "the Volcano attracts Prometheus" in 1784, recognized as "designated" in academics. In 1785 he was awarded the title of academician. Teacher AH, adjunct Professor in 1794, Professor of historical painting since 1800. In the 1800s, wrote a series of images for the Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg. In 1818 – 1821 he was appointed Director of the Imperial tapestry manufactory. In 1813 he completed a series of drawings dedicated to the Patriotic war of 1812 (TG).
"Department Peterhof offices of the diamond and agate mill satmaster son."
Historical painter and portraitist, pupil of the Imperial Academy of Arts from 1764 Received for drawing two silver medals (in 1774 and 1777), in 1778 was awarded a small gold medal, and then in the following year awarded him the first of all gold medal, established by Mrs. rzhevska for artists who have distinguished themselves in the expression. Being in the same 1779 sent at public expense abroad, improved in Paris. On his return to St. Petersburg received the title: appointed to the Academy in 1785, an academician and adjunct Professor in 1794, and, finally, professors, in 1800, was Director of the Imperial tapestry manufactory.
Wrote only of the image and the portraits of the ladies of the Royal family and other distinguished persons. of his known works: the painting "Belisarius" (located in the Museum of the Academy of fine Arts) and the image in the Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg: "the Conception of St. Anne" and "education of the virgin" (in the main iconostasis) and "the appearance of the resurrected Christ to the Apostle Thomas" (in the iconostasis of the right chapel).
