Konstantin Yegorovich Makovsky (June 20, 1839 — September 17, 1915) was an influential Russian painter, affiliated with the "Peredvizhniki (Wanderers)". Many of his historical paintings, such as The Russian Bride's Attire (1889), showed an idealised view of Russian life of prior centuries. He is often considered a representative of a Salon art.

Konstantin was born in Moscow as the older son of a Russian art figure and amateur painter, Yegor Ivanovich Makovsky. His mother was a music composer, and hoped her son would one day follow in her footsteps. In 1851 Konstantin entered the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture where he became the top student, easily getting all the available awards.

In 1858 Makovsky entered the Imperial Academy of Arts in Saint Petersburg. A significant change in his style occurred after travelling to Egypt and Serbia in the mid-1870s. His interests changed from social and psychological problems to the artistic problems of colours and shape.

In the 1880s he became a fashioned author of portraits and historical paintings. He was one of the most highly appreciated and highly paid Russian artists of the time. Many democratic critics considered him as a renegade of the Wanderers' ideals, producing (like Henryk Siemiradzki) striking but shallow works, while others see him as a forerunner of Russian Impressionism.

Makovsky became a victim of a road accident (his horse-driven carriage was hit by an electric tram) and died in 1915 in Saint Petersburg.

From Wikipedia

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