Pavel Andreyevich Fedotov was born in Moscow on June, 22nd 1815 into the family of a very poor official, the former soldier of Catherine’s epoch. In 1826 the father sent the boy to study in the First Moscow military school. Thanks to his infallible memory Pavel studied well and easily mastered sciences. Already then, in the first years of his studies Pavel Fedotov showed his inclination for painting. His first drawings were caricatures of his fellow students, himself, and authorities. Later drawing grew into a passionate hobby. In December, 1833 Pavel finished military school. He was sent to Petersburg to serve in the Finnish regiment of the life guards, where spent ten years.

In June, 1834 Fedotov acquired a permit to visit drawing classes of the Academy of Arts. His first works were dedicated to military subjects, most of them with a satirical focus.

After Pavel presented his unfinished work Hallowing of Banners in the Renovated Winter Palace to the emperor, the latter gave him the right to retire and dedicate himself entirely to art.

By the end of the 1840s the artist gained deserved recognition. His paintings were popular because he conveyed reality as it is.

In June, 1852 the artist suffered a mental breakdown. After five months of pain Pavel Andreevich Fedotov died on November, 14th, 1852, forgotten by everybody but his close friends. The censorship committee forbade publishing the news of his death in the press. In Fedotov’s lifetime none of the artist’s literary compositions was published. His satirical poem Major’s Marriage Proposal published in Leipzig in 1857 was banned from distribution in Russia.