Paris, France
Toward academic and romantic art
A decisive turning point for Russian art occurred in the 18th century with Peter the Great, a reformist emperor who sought to modernize his empire by drawing inspiration from European powers.
Under his reign, Russian art opened to European influences. Artists were sent to study in France and Italy to learn from Western masters.
The Imperial Academy of Arts, founded in 1757 in Saint Petersburg, became a symbol of this modernization effort.
In the 19th century, Russian academic art was shaped by European neoclassicism and romanticism. It was an era of grand historical frescoes, elite portraits, and idealized landscapes. However, a more realistic and socially conscious movement began to take shape.