He received his initial training at a private painting school in Arzamas, operated by Alexander Stupin.

He continued his studies at the Imperial Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg, with Mikhail Matveevich Ivanov.

In 1837, he made a trip to the Caucasus, bringing back numerous sketches of the Ural and Altai mountains.

In 1849, he was forced to return to Russia, due to continuing political unrest in Italy.

Among his best known works are a view of Rome from Monte Mario and the "Vision of Alypius".