Anton Legashov

Anton Mikhailovich Legashov, also Legashev or Legashyov (Russian: Антон Михайлович Легашов, or Легашёв; 1798 in Lipovka, Luninsky District – 1865 in Saint Petersburg) was a Russian landscape and portrait painter.

Biography

He was born to family of

joinery. In 1818, he was given his freedom and, in 1820, went to Saint Petersburg, where he audited classes at the Imperial Academy of Arts.^[1] He first displayed special skills as a portrait painter when he studied with Alexander Varnek

. His works were awarded a silver medal in 1824.

The following year, the Academy's steering committee was prepared to name him an "Artist", 14th-class, but the proposal was rejected by Tsar Nicholas I (a self-styled art connoisseur),^[1] who had seen his work and felt that it was premature to give him the title; suggesting that at least one more year of works be evaluated first.^[2]

In 1829, at the suggestion of the Academy's President, Legashov presented the Tsar with a portrait of Major General Alexander Khatov [ru]. It was, however, found unsatisfactory (the Tsar was especially displeased with the hands, apparently) and Legashov's application was once again rejected.^[3]

At the end of that year, he finally received his title and joined the Eleventh

Order of Saint Stanislaus for his overall contributions to the mission.^[1]

Upon his return in 1841, he suggested that the Academy allow him to teach

Chinese ink painting there, but his proposal was rejected on the grounds that it was considered inferior to European art and he was not knowledgeable enough to be an instructor.^[3] Instead, he became a drawing teacher at the Saint Petersburg State Institute of Technology; a position he held until 1852.^[1]

He continued to create paintings with Chinese motifs and themes; including landscapes,

still-lifes. His works are in several museums in Moscow, as well as in Vladivostok

and private collections.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Brief biography Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine @ RusArtNet.
^ Brief biography @ Russian Paintings,
^ ^a ^b Brief biography from the Russian Biographical Dictionary @ Russian WikiSource.

External links

Media related to Anton Legashov at Wikimedia Commons

[R-1] Brief biography Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine @ RusArtNet.

[2] Brief biography @ Russian Paintings,

[W-3] Brief biography from the Russian Biographical Dictionary @ Russian WikiSource.

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