Firs Zhuravlev

Painter, lithographer, teacher. Studied history painting under Timoleon Carl von Neff, Fidelio Bruni and Alexei Markov at the Imperial Academy of Arts (1855–63). Awarded minor silver medals (1858, 1860), major silver medals (1860, 1862) and a minor gold medal (1862). One of the rebellious fourteen students who refused to paint the set topic in the competition for a major gold medal and resigned from the Imperial Academy of Arts with the title of second-class artist (1863). Founding member of the St Petersburg Artel of Artists (1863–71). Kept under police surveillance for his ties to the revolutionary movement (1862–74). Taught at the School of Drawing of the Society for the Encouragement of the Arts (1866, 1871–72) and his own studio (from 1879). Decorated the Church of Christ the Saviour in Moscow (1870–83) and the Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood in St Petersburg (1894–97). Academician (1874). Contributed to the exhibitions of the Imperial Academy of Arts (from 1860), Society of Travelling Art Exhibitions (1888–89), Pan-Russian Exhibition in Nizhny Novgorod (1896), Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia (1876, gold medal), Exposition Universelle in Paris (1878) and one-man shows in Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod and Saratov (1885).