This was followed by a gold medal in 1858, and another in 1861 for his rather lengthily titled painting "Иоанн III свергает татарское иго, разорвав изображение хана и приказав умертвить послов" (Ivan III overthrowing the Mongol yoke, destroying the Khan's image and killing his ambassadors).

[2] Two years later, he joined the "Revolt of the Fourteen", a group of students who supported the newer Realistic art and were protesting the Academy's insistence on promoting the Classical style.

He later joined Ivan Kramskoi and other members of the revolt in a new group called the Artel of Artists.

In 1865, at an exhibition by the Artel, his portrait of Mikhail Korsakov [ru] (Governor-General of Eastern Siberia) drew attention and he was elevated to the title of "Academician" at the Academy.

He died, aged only thirty-three, after suffering from a sudden mental derangement, possibly brought about by excessive drinking.