Ivan Aivazovsky (1817–1900) Ready to be hang on the wall. Canvas on the wooden frame. Medium: printed on canvas panel. Diagonal: 21,3" or 54 cm. Size: 17,7" x 11,8" (in) or 45 x 30 cm. Date: c. 1856. w / C. of Attribution. Please note that this is a reproduction printed on canvas. The size may differ from how it looks in the photo. Color can be slightly different from the picture. Following his education at the Imperial Academy of Arts in Saint Petersburg, Aivazovsky traveled to Europe and lived briefly in Italy in the early 1840 s. He then returned to Russia and was appointed the main painter of the Russian Navy. Aivazovsky had close ties with the military and political elite of the Russian Empire and often attended military maneuvers. He was sponsored by the state and was well-regarded during his lifetime. The saying "worthy of Aivazovsky's brush", popularized by Anton Chekhov, was used in Russia for describing something lovely. He remains highly popular in Russia in the 21 st century. One of the most prominent Armenian artist of his time, Aivazovsky was also popular outside Russian Empire. He held numerous solo exhibitions in Europe and the United States. During his almost 60-year career, he created around 6,000 paintings, making him one of the most prolific artists of his time. The vast majority of his works are seascapes, but he often depicted battle scenes, Armenian themes, and portraiture. Most of Aivazovsky's works are kept in Russian, Ukrainian and Armenian museums as well as private collections.