Alexander Kiselyov

Painter, graphic artist, teacher. Born at the Russian naval fortress of Sveaborg outside Helsinki (1838). Studied at the Count Arakcheyev Cadet School in Novgorod (from 1850), Second Cadet School in St Petersburg (from 1852), Faculty of Law of St Petersburg University (1858–61) and the Imperial Academy of Arts (1862–64). Moved to Kharkiv (1865), where he married and worked for the Kharkiv Land Bank (from 1871). Moved to Moscow (1877), where he taught drawing at the Second Grammar School for Girls (1877–81) and became an active member of the Society of Travelling Art Exhibitions (from 1876) and the Moscow Society of Lovers of the Arts (from 1877). Travelled widely across Europe and Russia, painting views of the Crimea and Caucasus (1880s). Academician (1890), full member of the Imperial Academy of Arts (from 1893). Moved to St Petersburg, where he worked at the Imperial Academy of Arts as school inspector (1895–97) and professor of landscape painting (1897–1911). Built a house in Tuapse in Krasnodar Region (1902), which is now a public museum. Founding member of the Northern Circle of Lovers of the Fine Arts in Vologda (1906). Contributed to the exhibitions of the Society of Travelling Art Exhibitions (from 1875).