Levitsky Dmitry Grigorievich

The future artist was born in a small Ukrainian village in Poltava region around 1735. The artist's first mentor and teacher was his father, Grigory Kirillovich Levitsky, a priest and engraver of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. Grigory Kirillovich was an educated and creative man. He spent thirteen years in Poland, learning the skills of an engraver. He moved to St. Petersburg about 1758. He studied under A. P. Antropov from 1758, worked in co-operation with him, in particular on the design of the coronation celebrations associated with the accession of Catherine II to the throne (1762). In the 1760s he worked in Moscow. Painted icons for Moscow churches. Taught at the Academy of Arts, headed the class of portrait painting (1771-1788). In 1787 for unclear reasons resigned, worked as a free painter. In 1800s because of an eye disease he was forced to leave painting. In 1807 returned to the Academy Council. Author of numerous portraits of contemporaries.