Stepan
Semenovich Shchukin

Stepan Semenovich Shchukin — one of the great masters of Russian portrait art of the end XVIII — first quarter of XIX century. Contemporary F. Rokotov and V. L. Borovikovsky, he studied at St. Petersburg Academy of arts D. G. Levitsky, and was considered one of the most gifted and promising of his students. Not just for successes in painting Shchukin received academic awards. Upon graduation in 1782 he was sent to a pensioner's trip to France, and on his return received the title assigned to the Academy.

In 1788, Shchukin was determined to place Levitsky and for many years led a class of portraiture. In this field clearly manifested his talent as a teacher. Among the students of the Shchukin we find the names of such famous artists as V. A. Tropinin, A. G. Varnek, M. I. Terebenev. The activity of the artist received official recognition: in 1798 he became an academician, and in 1802 was appointed Advisor to the Academy of arts.