Yermolai Dementievich Kamezhenkov (1760 - 1818)

Yermolai Dementievich Kamezhenkov

Yermolai Dementievich Kamezhenkov (Russian: Ермолай Дементьевич Камеженков) was an esteemed Russian artist, born in 1760 into serfdom in Tver. His early education in icon painting was under Dmitry Kryzhov, after which his talents brought him to St. Petersburg for further study with Gavriil Kozlov. Kamezhenkov's skills caught the attention of Catherine the Great, who, impressed by his work, emancipated him from serfdom in 1786.

Kamezhenkov's artistry was predominantly in portraiture, where he was noted for his subtle color harmonies and insightful character depiction. His works include notable portraits such as "Portrait of I. P. Groot" (1788) and "Portrait of an Unknown Man in a Purple Robe" (1790), which are held in high regard for their elegant color schemes and expressive depth. He became an Academician in 1794, an acknowledgment of his significant contributions to Russian art.

Living and working in cities like Moscow and Kashin, Kamezhenkov left a legacy that includes a rich collection of paintings, each preserving a piece of Russian history and culture through its vivid portrayal of its subjects. His works, such as the "Portrait of the Artist's Daughter with a Babysitter" (1808), are cherished not only for their artistic merit but also for their historical significance​​.

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