Nikolai Chekhov

Nikolai Chekhov was born on May 23, 1858, in Taganrog, Russia. His father was a grocer and his mother was the daughter of a cloth merchant. He had five siblings, including Anton, who was six years younger than him. He showed an early talent for drawing and painting, and attended the Taganrog Gymnasium, where he studied Latin, Greek, and French. He also took private lessons from a local artist, Yehuda Pen. In 1875, he moved to Moscow, where he enrolled in the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture. He studied with Alexei Savrasov, Vasily Perov, and Illarion Pryanishnikov, among others. He graduated in 1881 with the title of "Artist Class XIV". He then returned to Taganrog, where he worked as a teacher and a painter. He also illustrated some of Anton's stories, such as "The Steppe", "The Huntsman", and "The Grasshopper". He was known for his realistic and expressive style, influenced by the Peredvizhniki (The Wanderers) movement. He painted mostly portraits and genre scenes, depicting the life and customs of the people of southern Russia. He also experimented with impressionism and symbolism, using bright colours and dynamic brushstrokes. He suffered from alcoholism and tuberculosis, which affected his health and career. He often lived in poverty and isolation, and was unable to finish some of his projects. He died in Luka, a village near Kharkov, on June 29, 1889, at the age of 31. He was buried in the local cemetery, next to his aunt Raya, who had taken care of him in his last years. He is regarded as a talented and original artist, who was overshadowed by his famous brother. His works are preserved in several museums and galleries, such as the Tretyakov Gallery, the Russian Museum, and the Taganrog Art Museum.