№ 1967. The 200th Birth Anniversary of Pavel A. Fedotov (1815-1852), Artist. Portrait of N.P. Zhdanovich at the Harpsichord

Pavel A. Fedotov (1815 – 1852) was an amateur Russian painter known as a Russian Hogarth.

Fedotov was an officer of the Imperial Guards of Saint Petersburg. Like many of his colleagues at the time, he was interested in arts. He attended evening classes at the Academy of Fine Arts, where he focused on painting

The idea of being a regiment painter did not appeal to Fedotov, who understood that a true creative artist should devote himself to art completely and so choosing to concentrate more fully on his painting, he retired himself from the army in 1844 and handed himself over to his artistry.

He initially used both pencil and watercolor to produce his works, though began to develop a more mature medium by changing to painting with oils in 1846.

Completing a number of pieces using the new medium, most notable the 'Newly Decorated', 'Difficult Bride' and 'Untimely Guest' were full of the satire and critique surrounding the then current social and political order.

Fedotov’s works were recognized as a new word in art at the exhibition of 1848 in St. Petersburg and brought the painter success that promised his prosperity and, hence, the possibility to continue his work. Perhaps the crowning achievement of his career was Major’s Marriage Proposal (1851) displaying the maturity with which Fedotov skill had developed.

Before he perished, Fedotov had produced his, probably, best works imbued with a feeling of desperate sorrow gradually growing until it reached its climax in the Encore, Encore!, Gamblers, and Young Widow.