Kovalevsky Pavel Osipovich

Battle painter. Born in Kazan in the family of Kazan University professor O.M. Kovalevsky. He studied at the Academy of Arts (1863-1871) in the battle class of B.P. Villevalde. For his success he was awarded four silver medals. In 1869 he received a small gold medal for the painting “Pursuit of Turkish foragers by Cossacks near Kars.” In 1871, he received a large gold medal for his diploma work “The First Day of the Battle of Leipzig in 1813.” In 1873-1876 he was a pensioner of the Academy of Arts in Italy, France, and Austria. For the painting "Excavations in Rome" in 1876 he was awarded the title of academician, in 1878 at the World Exhibition in Paris he received a 2nd class gold medal, in 1886 at the Anniversary Academic Exhibition in Berlin - a gold medal. After returning to Russia, he travels through the Caucasus - a place that is especially attractive for any battle painter. Paintings created from Caucasian sketches became a stage in developing skills in creating battle compositions. During the Russian-Turkish War of 1877-1878, P.O. Kovalevsky was sent to the active army as an artist. His sketches formed the basis for such works as “Headquarters of the 12th Corps in Bulgaria” (Prisoned Turks), 1878 and “October 12, 1877” (Transshipment Point), 1878. In the 1880s, sketches of the Balkan campaign were used by the artist when painting canvases for the Military Gallery of the Winter Palace: “Battle of the Lome River on October 12, 1877”, "Cavalry case at Trestenik and Mechka on November 14, 1877", "Night battle near Karagach on January 4, 1878." In his work, the artist also turned to genre painting (Detour of the Diocese, 1885), but the main place was always occupied by battle painting. In 1891 he became a professor at the Academy of Arts, and in 1897 he headed the battle workshop and directed it until his last days.