Karl Bryullov, a renowned painter of the first half of the 19th century, became famous for his painting "The Last Day of Pompeii." His life and work deserve special attention.

Karl Pavlovich Bryullov was born in December 1799 in St. Petersburg into a large family. He had two sisters and three brothers. His father, a well-known artist, likely had a significant influence on Karl, determining his artistic fate. All the Bryullov brothers studied at the Academy of Arts, where their father taught.

In childhood, Karl was frail and hardly got out of bed until the age of seven. However, his father was strict and demanded that his son complete a certain number of drawings each day, just like his brothers. If Karl did not meet the requirements, he was punished by being deprived of food. Once, his father struck him so hard that Karl became deaf in one ear.

From an early age, Karl studied the intricacies of the craft and at the age of ten entered the Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg, astonishing the teachers with his skill. He studied well, and his first serious painting "Narcissus Gazing at the Water," based on the myth of Narcissus, earned him a gold medal from the academy.

This moment became a starting point for Bryullov's further creativity. In 1821, he graduated from the Academy and joined the Society for the Encouragement of Artists, which allowed him to travel to Italy. Karl insisted that his brother Alexander accompany him. That same year, he completed the painting "The Appearance of Three Angels to Abraham at the Oak of Mamre."

In Italy, Karl and Alexander studied the works of masters from the Renaissance and earlier periods. Bryullov became fascinated with genre painting, which inspired him to create works like "Italian Noon" and "Italian Morning," depicting everyday scenes.

Bryullov's Italian period was marked by numerous portraits, including "The Horsewoman," portraits of Matvey Vielgorosky and Yulia Samoylova. Upon returning to St. Petersburg, he turned back to portrait painting.

Bryullov spent over 12 years in Europe, but Italy remained his favorite place. During his second trip, he studied the ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum, destroyed by an earthquake. Impressed by the grandeur of Pompeii, he dedicated years to studying their history and archaeology, which led to the creation of the painting "The Last Day of Pompeii," which he worked on for six years.

In 1833, Bryullov presented the painting to the public. It caused a sensation and was exhibited in Paris and Milan. For this work, he received a gold medal and became an honorary member of European Academies of Arts. However, after this, he entered a creative crisis.

To distract himself, Karl went on a journey through Turkey and Greece, which positively influenced his creativity. He created a series of drawings and watercolors, including "The Turkish Woman," "The Turk Mounting a Horse," "The Fountain of Bakhchisarai," and "The Wounded Greek."

In 1835, by order of Emperor Nicholas I, Bryullov returned to Russia, first visiting Odessa and Moscow. In St. Petersburg, he began teaching at the Academy of Arts and worked on the decoration of the Peter and Paul Cathedral.

Bryullov was in love with Countess Yulia Samoylova, who became his muse and support. Their relationship was complicated and repeatedly interrupted. In Russia, he also fell in love with pianist Emilia Timm, but their marriage soon fell apart, leading to the artist's social isolation.

In 1847, Bryullov's health deteriorated, and he went abroad for treatment. On the island of Madeira, his condition worsened, and he passed away in 1852. After his death, unfinished works and sketches remained, preserved in museums and private collections. In Italy, a monument to Bryullov was erected at the Testaccio cemetery.