Fedot Shubin

Fedot Ivanovich Shubin ( russian Федот Иванович Шубин; * 17 Maijul / May 28 1740greg in Kholmogory in the former province Archangelgorod, .. .. † 12 Maijul / May 24 1805greg ) was one of the most important Russian sculptor of the 18th century.

He was born the son of a farmer in a Pomors village near Kholmogory in northern Russia. Inspired by the example of his compatriot Mikhail Lomonosov he went at the age of 18 years to Saint Petersburg. Lomonosov noticed schools bins talent in Walrossbein - carving, a traditional practice in Kholmogory folk crafts, and helped him to enroll in the newly established St. Petersburg Academy of Arts. His instructor, Nicolas- François Gillet, was so impressed by Schu bins abilities that he gave him an academic gold medal, which Shubin opened the possibility of extending his education abroad.

In Paris he met at the studio of the great Jean -Baptiste Pigalle, before he moved on to three years to Rome. After his return to Russia in 1772 Schubbin became the most prestigious and most sought after sculptors of the country. In the next twenty years he worked on numerous projects for the Marble Palace and the Alexander Nevsky Monastery. He created the Abbilde all 58 previous Russian rulers from Rurik and got an academic status at the Academy of Fine Arts. However, his career was often disturbed by the intrigues of his rivals. It was not until 1794 he was a professor.