Collection: Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky

Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky (1817–1900) was a Russian Romantic painter of Armenian descent, born in Feodosia, Crimea. He received his education at the Imperial Academy of Arts in Saint Petersburg. Primarily based in his native Feodosia, Aivazovsky was appointed the main painter of the Russian Navy.

Aivazovsky is recognized for his marine art, with seascapes constituting the vast majority of his approximately 6,000 paintings. His prolific career, spanning almost 60 years, also included battle scenes, Armenian themes, and portraiture. He depicted the sea's drama and tranquility through his precise brushwork.

Following his studies, Aivazovsky traveled to Europe, residing briefly in Italy in the early 1840s. He maintained close ties with the military and political elite of the Russian Empire and received state sponsorship. He held numerous solo exhibitions across Europe and the United States, and his works are preserved in various international museums and private collections.