Fedor Solntsev

Biography

Fedor or Fyodor Grigoryevich Solntsev (Russian: Фёдор Григо́рьевич Со́лнцев; 26 April [O.S. 14 April] 1801 – 15 March [O.S. 3 March] 1892) was a Russian painter and historian of art. His artwork was a major contribution in recording and preserving medieval Russian culture, which was a common subject of his paintings. He was the main author of the fundamental work Antiquities of the Russian State, the main decorator of interiors of the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow. He discovered and restored mosaics and frescoes of Saint Sophia Cathedral and Cathedral of the Dormition of the Monastery of the Caves in Kiev, and of Cathedral of Saint Demetrius in Vladimir.

Fedor Solntsev, together with Metropolitan Philaret and Archimandrite Photius are considered the founders of modern Russian icon painting canon synthesizing ancient Russian traditions, post-Petrine efforts and modern art discoveries.