Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky (1817‒1900) was a Russian painter, art patron, professor, academician and an honorary member of the Imperial Academy of Arts. He was born in Feodosia on July 29, 1817, where he founded an art school and a gallery. It is the Feodosia Art Gallery named after Ivan Aivazovsky that now boasts the most complete collection of the painter’s works.
The artist mainly painted seascapes during his trips to England, Spain, Germany, Africa, America and Middle East. During his life, he created around 6,000 paintings and won international fame as a marine artist.
Aivazovsky was an art patron and used his fortune generously for charitable purposes. He gave money to build an archeological museum in Feodosia and for many urban development works.
The postage stamp features
The Entrance to Sevastopol Bay (1852) painting by Ivan Aivazovsky, and the souvenir sheets margins bear a portrait of the artist.
Additionally, JSC “Marka” manufactured first day covers and an illustrated cover with the souvenir sheet and vignettes inside. Special cancellation postmarks for Moscow, Volgograd, and Feodosia, Republic of Crimea, were produced.
Design: O. Savina.
Face value: 95 RUB.
Size of souvenir sheet: 98×92 mm, size of stamp in sheet: 45×37 mm.
Circulation: 70,000 copies.
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