Fedor Slavyansky Biography

Fedor Slavyansky, a serf of the landlady Avdotya Nikolayevna Semenova, was born in the village of Vyshkovo in Tver Guberniya (region). He became Venetsianov’s student in 1839 in his estate of Safonkovo. Venetsianov did his best to buy freedom to Slavyansky. In 1840, he asked the Academy to allow his student to visit lessons in drawing. Slavyansky studied in classes of professors Varnek and Markov, and simultaneously worked with Venetsianov. In 1845, he got the title of a freelance artist. Slavyansky was not a very talented painter; he was grateful to his teacher for everything, but failed him in his works.