Vasili Andreevich - The Lace Maker

Василий Андреевич Тропинин Vasili Andreevich Tropinin (1776-1857) - The Lace Maker (1823)

Russian Stamp issued 1967

Held in the Tretyakov Gallery, Russia

Tropinin was a gifted serf who managed to embark on an artistic career in his 20s, although he did not obtain his freedom until he was almost 40 years old.  He lived in the Ukraine for over 20 years early in his career.

This painting is one of three of his most important works and it was painted shortly after he got his freedom and was living in Moscow.  He became an important and respected romantic portrait artist, completing over 3000 portraits during his life.