Pimen Orlov

He eventually turned to painting portraits of local landowners and, in 1834, with recommendations from the Gladkis, a Ukrainian noble family, he was able to go to Saint Petersburg and audit classes at the Imperial Academy of Arts, where he studied with Karl Bryullov and decided to become a painter of genre scenes.

Then, in 1848, he sent home a painting ("Young Woman Doing Laundry") that was brought to the attention of Tsar Nicholas I, who awarded him an annual pension of 300 Rubles.

[citation needed] The following year, all pensioners were ordered to return to Russia, but he was able to get permission to stay, pleading eye disease and the necessity of completing his standing commissions.

[2] Orlov's paintings, which drew the praise of his contemporaries, are noted for their softness and beauty of colour, along with the efficacy of the lighting and the thoroughness of the finish.

However, in Russia they were also in demand - the paintings "Young Roman Girl at the Fountain", "Italian Morning" were bought by Emperor Nicholas I.