05.07.1832 – 11.11.1919

Pavel Chistyakov was born on July 5, 1832 in the village of Prudy, Tver Province. In many respects the artist owes his development to his father, who understood the importance of education.

In 1849 Pavel Chistyakov entered the Imperial Academy of Arts. During his studies the artist was awarded two large and two small silver medals of the Academy for drawings and sketches from nature.

In 1861 Pavel Chistyakov graduated from the course at the Academy with a big gold medal and got the right to a pensioner’s trip abroad for further improvement of his skill. Overseas travel Pavel Chistyakov began in 1862, before having time to be a teacher at the St. Petersburg Drawing School for freestyle pupils. Abroad, the artist visited Germany, France, Italy. On his return St. Petersburg in 1870 Chistyakov received the title of academician for his painted abroad: “Frenchman going to a public ball,” “Roman beggar.”

Pavel Chistyakov is known as a master of historical and portrait painting. The artist sought to create psychologically rich canvases. After returning from a foreign trip, Pavel Chistyakov basically devoted himself to teaching.