DON QUE NO SIEMBRAS... TALENTO QUE NO SE ENCIENDE

Christa Zaat

Ekaterina Nikolaevna Khilova (Russian painter) 1827 - ca. 1876
Interior of the Womens Department of the St Petersburg Drawing School, 1855
oil on canvas
73 x 89 cm.
State Russian Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia

The woman - a master of fine arts in the world - a topic of special investigations. Their small size, even in a very democratic times (for example, the beginning of XX century) should not be surprising. In most European countries, Russia among them, the family life of all segments of the population and social traditions were not conducive to the integration of women in the occupation of Arts. Since the beginning of the secular art in our country artistry by men craft. Therefore established in the second half of XVIII century the Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg, designed for students from the lower strata of the population - the children of soldiers, petty bureaucrats, serfs. It was only in 1820-th year teaching at the Academy of Fine Arts is a prestigious and among academics appear scions of the nobility. Only in 1893 the fairer sex was available formal training at the Academy. Previously they could be engaged as 'free attendant' students, who were excluded from official competitions ans exams, but could win medals and awards. The painting "The interior of the women's wing of the St. Petersburg School of Drawing for free attendants" says Ekaterina Khilkov and presents interesting document about teaching Russian ladies fine art.
Khilkova herself worked as a drawing teacher there for a while as well as in other women's educational institutes.

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Unfortunately, information about the artist remained frustratingly little. It is known that she was born in Tambov. Attended classes at the Academy of Fine Arts. For reproducible here now received from the Academy silver medal. In 1864, for the "Portrait of Mr. Bulgakov's" got a second silver medal and the title of the class artist of the third degree. On academic fairs represent several other works, EN Khilkov. However, from 1876 mentions in the press about the life and work of the artist disappear.