Vladimir Makovsky was born on February 7, 1846, in Moscow. His mother, Lyubov Mollenhauer, was a singer and taught at the Moscow Conservatory, while his father, Yegor Makovsky, was a member of the Moscow Society of Artists and one of the founders of the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture.

The family had five children, and their father taught them drawing from an early age. The Makovsky home often hosted well-known artists of the time, such as Vasily Tropinin, Sergey Zaryanko, and Karl Bryullov, who worked with the children and allowed them to visit their studios. At the age of seven, Vladimir painted his first picture, depicting one of the family’s guests. Under his father's guidance, he copied engravings.

From 1861 to 1866, Vladimir studied at the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture under S. K. Zaryanko and E. S. Sorokin, representatives of the Venetian school. He graduated with a silver medal and the title of class artist of the third degree for his work "Literary Reading."

In 1869, Makovsky received the title of class artist of the first degree and the gold medal named after Vigee-Lebrun for his painting "Peasant Boys Guarding Horses." That same year, with the birth of his son Alexander, his interest in children's themes intensified, reflected in works such as "Peasant Boys," "Shepherds," "Night," and "Return from Night." The painting "Playing with Marbles" became Makovsky's first work acquired by P. M. Tretyakov for his gallery, marking the recognition of his talent.

In 1873, for the painting "Lovers of Nightingale Singing," Makovsky was awarded the title of academician of painting and a monetary prize from the Society for the Encouragement of the Arts. That same year, his works were exhibited abroad for the first time.

In 1870, Makovsky became one of 15 artists who signed the charter of the Society of Traveling Art Exhibitions, aimed at facilitating the sale of artists' works and fostering a love for art in society.

In 1872, he was accepted as a member of the Society, and a year later, he joined its board, participating in almost all the exhibitions of the Wanderers. Makovsky recalled: "Repin says you need to die seven times before you can paint a picture. This is certainly true... And I die seven times after I paint a picture... After all, the painting travels through Russia, what Russia says is what matters: that is where the judgment is!"

From 1882 to 1894, Makovsky taught at the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture, while also creating icons for the church and chapel in Borki. In 1892, he was awarded the title of professor. Until 1894, he lived and worked in Moscow, in a house of the Palace Department near the Stone Bridge, where he prepared several sketches for the decoration of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.

From 1894 to 1918, Makovsky taught in St. Petersburg at the Imperial Academy of Arts, where he headed the genre workshop. In 1895, he became the rector of the academy.

Vladimir Yegorovich Makovsky passed away on February 21, 1920, and was buried in Petrograd at the Smolensk Orthodox Cemetery.