Pyotr Sokolov (portraitist)

Pyotr Fyodorovich Sokolov (Russian: Пётр Фёдорович Сóколов) (1791, Moscow – 15 August [O.S. 3 August] 1848, Merchik, Kharkov Governorate) was a Russian aquarelle portraitist who painted many of the most distinguished figures of the Pushkin era. He was the father of the painters Pyotr Sokolov, Pavel Sokolov and Alexander Sokolov.

Sokolov was born in Moscow, and between the years of 1800 to 1809 he attended Imperial Academy of Arts where he studied with Alexei Yegorov and Vasily Shebuyev who both were very famous and respected artists. In 1809, Sokolov painted "Andromache Mourning Hector” ("Андромаха оплакивает убитого Гектора") for his institution's competition, receiving a minor gold medal as well as the title of "Artist". As part of the Academy's offerings, the students who won the major gold medal were also awarded a stipend to go abroad to enhance their education. Sokolov wanted to continue his education in Italy, so he stayed in school for one more year and participated in the contest again, but he did not manage to achieve this goal.

Sokolov captured numerous people in his portraits, starting with fellow artists and ending with veterans of the Patriotic War of 1812. Amongst those people individuals such as Alexander Pushkin and Vasily Zhukovsky, who were famous Russian poets, were included as well. Additionally, Sokolov received many commissions from various high-ranking persons. For example, the artist was invited by the imperial family to Anichkov Palace where he painted a portrait of Nicholas I of Russia's three-year-old son, Alexander, and the work was a success with the family.

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