Today is Hovhannes Aivazovsky’s birthday

As a master of seascapes and marine art, Hovhannes Aivazovsky is considered among the foremost painters of the Russian Romantic movement. Learn more about Aivazovsky’s life, famous artworks, and artistic style.

Aivazovsky was a nineteenth-century Russian Romantic painter known as one of the greatest masters of marine art. During a nearly 60-year career from the early 1840s until his death in 1900, Aivazovsky built his reputation on naval battle scenes, coastal scenes, portraiture, and various maritime paintings. The vast majority of his works are set in Russia—particularly his native Crimea (a region claimed by both Russia and Ukraine).

Aivazovsky came from an Armenian family, and many of his works take on Armenian themes, which has made them popular in Armenian museums and private collections.

The works of Ivan Aivasovsky can be found in museums around the globe, from the State Russian Museum in Saint Petersburg to the National Gallery of Armenia in Yerevan to various galleries in the United States.

Highlights of Aivazovsky’s canon include:
1. American Shipping off the Rock of Gibraltar (1873): A classic Romantic example of one of his seascapes, the bright blue sea in this painting contrasts with a warm, golden yellow sky.
2. Bay of Naples (1842): Showcasing darker, moodier tones and a tranquil scene, this 1842 painting is a notable example of Aivazovsky’s earlier works.
3. View of Constantinople, with the Nusretiye Mosque (1856): One of many View of Constantinople paintings, this painting’s subject is the Nusretiye Mosque located in Istanbul, Turkey. It features muted blue tones and a misty seaport.
4. Valley of Mount Ararat (1882): An example of Aivazovsky’s expansive landscapes, Valley of Mount Ararat features travelers on horseback in the foreground with a snow-capped, dormant volcano in the background.
5. The Baptism of the Armenian People (1892): This painting is one of the rare examples of Aivazovsky featuring people as the dominant subject.