The Imperial Academy of Arts architecture class hosted Alexander Brullov from 1810 until his graduation with honors in 1820. Born in Saint Petersburg in 1798 into a family of artists, he established a career spanning both painting and architecture within the Russian Empire before his death in Saint Petersburg in 1877.
European Training and Artistic Development
Supported by a stipend from the Society for the Promotion of Artists, Brullov spent eight years between 1822 and 1830 traveling through Italy, Germany, and France. This period proved foundational for his professional development. While abroad, he produced numerous watercolor portraits, including depictions of the Royal Family in Naples and a drawing of the Coliseum in Rome for Empress Maria Feodorovna. His work in Paris included a 1837 portrait of Walter Scott. During his stay in France, he authored the architectural text Thermes de Pompéi, published by A. Firman Didot in 1829.
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Upon returning to Russia in 1831, Brullov accepted a professorship at the Imperial Academy of Arts. His architectural career included several major commissions in Saint Petersburg. He designed the Mikhailovsky Theatre between 1831 and 1833, the Lutheran Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul on Nevsky Prospekt from 1833 to 1838, the Pulkovo Observatory between 1834 and 1839, and the Guard Corps Headquarters on Palace Square from 1837 to 1843. Following the 1837 fire at the Winter Palace, he served as a principal architect for the reconstruction, designing interiors such as the Pompei Hall, the Malachite Room, and the White Hall.
Watercolor Portraiture
Beyond his structural designs, Brullov maintained a reputation as an accomplished watercolorist. His subjects frequently included members of the Russian nobility and prominent figures of his time. Notable works include portraits of Yekaterina Pavlovna Bakunina, John Capodistria, Yekaterina Ivanovna Zagryazhskaya, and a portrait of Prince Lopukhin completed in 1830. He also captured the Tsarevich Alexander surrounded by cadets from the Guards corps in 1831. His 1831–1832 portrait of Natalia Goncharova, the wife of poet Alexander Pushkin, remains a significant piece in the history of Russian art.
Fast facts
- Born: 1798, Saint Petersburg
- Died: 1877, Saint Petersburg
- Education: Imperial Academy of Arts
- Primary Occupations: Architect, painter
- Notable Buildings: Mikhailovsky Theatre, Pulkovo Observatory
- Awards: Order of St. Vladimir (2nd and 3rd class), Order of Saint Stanislaus (1st class)
Questions readers ask
What major buildings did Alexander Brullov design in Saint Petersburg?
His projects include the Mikhailovsky Theatre, the Lutheran Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, the Pulkovo Observatory, and the Guard Corps Headquarters.
Which honors did Brullov receive during his career?
He was awarded the Order of Saint Stanislaus, 1st class, and the Order of St. Vladimir in both the 2nd and 3rd classes.
Achievements
- Order of St. Vladimir, 2nd class
- Order of St. Vladimir, 3rd class — 1878
- Order of Saint Stanislaus, 1st class
