He was volnoprihodyaschim student of the Academy of arts since 1845. At the same time received a silver medal, and the following year — a large silver for the "Family picture" (now kept in the State Russian Museum). In 1848, P. E. Pushkarev was awarded the title of artist XIV class. Subsequently, he worked as a portraitist and perspectivist (in the State Tretyakov gallery are works by the painter "portrait of an unknown woman in lace Cape" and "In the rooms"). (Kondakov)