Mikhail Clodt von Jürgensburg
Mikhail Konstantinovich Clodt, Freiherr (Baron) von Jürgensburg (; 1832–1902; both Saint Petersburg) was a Russian Imperial realistic painter. Biography Mikhail Clodt was born to the artistic family of barons Clodt von Jürgensburg, his father was the first Russian wood engraver, his uncle Peter Clodt von Jürgensburg was a famous Russian sculptor. He learnt drawing at the Saint Petersburg Mining Cadet Corps, then at the Imperial Academy of Arts (1851–1858). After receiving a Large Gold Medal he received a scholarship for three years to study painting in France, Switzerland and Italy but abandoned his foreign trip in a year. He complained that the foreign landscapes would not inspire him and that French and Italian school of painting is inferior to Russian one. After returning Clodt got permissions to use the rest of the scholarship funds in his travel over Russia. In 1863 Clodt got recognition for his painting Highway in Autumn. Even higher praise was given for his work In the Field (1872) and the Forest view in Midday (1878). Observers celebrated his devotion to Russian landscape, attention to the details and perspective. On the other hand, popular art critic Vladimir Stasov noted petty naturalism and the "slavish following to reality"