Stepan Shchukin

Stepan Semyonovich Shchukin (Russian: Степан Семёнович Щукин; 1754, Moscow – 10 October 1828, Saint Petersburg) was a Russian painter, active in St. Petersburg from the Catherinian era through Tsar Nicholas I's reign. Some sources give his year of birth as 1762.

Biography He was the son of an army sergeant and was apparently abandoned by his family. changed his name from Semyonov to Shchukin.

In 1786, he returned from Paris and, two years later, was appointed a teacher of portraiture at the Academy. He was promoted to Academician Candidate for his portrait of the Academy's Director Yury Felten then, the following year, was named a full Academician for his portrait of Tsar Paul I.

In 1803, he was appointed a Counselor and, a few months thereafter, became Secretary of the Academic Conference. Shortly before his death, he received the title of Senior Advisor. Among his best-known students were Alexander Varnek and Vasily Tropinin.

Selected portraits