The most notable printmaker from the Catherinian era, Skorodumov had an active career that spanned three decades, and was regarded as the first Russian-born artist to gain international acclaim.

In 1764, he was admitted to the Imperial Academy of Arts, where he studied painting and engraving with Grigoriy Srebrenitsky [ru], Johann Stenglin and Anton Losenko.

Before he had finished his studies, he was already taking orders from local publishers, reproducing works by Joshua Reynolds and Benjamin West.

Within a few months of his arrival, the Empress was apparently tired of his constant complaints and hinted that he was free to leave if he wished.

In 1789, Ivan Krylov published a satire in his magazine, Почта духов, in which one of the characters, an artist named Trudolyubov (Hardworking), laments that he misses England, was better paid there, and is so depressed that he became a drunkard.