Konstantin Flavitsky – Russian painter
Konstantin Flavitsky (1830 – 1866) was a Russian painter.
Talented artist, delicate and sensitive, who believed in the triumph of justice, died of tuberculosis shortly after the creation of his the most striking masterpiece Princess Tarakanova. The painting, officially recognized as the most famous masterpiece of Flavitsky, based on the legend of the death of Yelizaveta Tarakanova in the prison during the flood of 1777 in Saint Petersburg.
Painting Princess Tarakanova became the swan song of the artist. He died at the age of 35.
Flavitsky’s difficult fate contributed to the realization of his brilliant talent. At the age of 9 he became an orphan and was sent to a foundling hospital for poor children. There he showed his extraordinary ability to draw. Konstantin’s uncle, an architect, was impressed by his works and gave 17-years-old boy a roof over the head. Young painter entered the Imperial Academy of Arts and left his relatives. You know, Konstantin worked very hard forgetting about himself. No wonder he looked much older at his photos.
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