Vasiliy Polenov

Vasily Polenov is remembered for bringing light and fresh air into Russian painting. His quiet Moscow courtyards, overgrown ponds and old gardens are painted with clear colour and a natural feel for sunlight.

Born in St Petersburg, he trained at the Imperial Academy of Arts, won its gold medal in 1871 and then travelled in Europe. He joined the Wanderers (Peredvizhniki) and taught at the Moscow school, where his students included Isaac Levitan and Konstantin Korovin. Moscow Courtyard (1878) is in the Tretyakov Gallery. He also made several journeys to the Holy Land, which led to his large Christ and the Sinner and a long cycle on the life of Christ.

His estate on the Oka river, where he spent his last years, is now a museum. Autumn in Abramtsevo shows his lighter landscape side.