Autumnal forest

Konstantin Kryzhitsky studied at the St Petersburg Academy of Fine Arts from 1877-1884. There he studied landscape painting under Mikhail Klodt and graduated from the Academy ranked as an Artist of the First Class. From 1879 onwards, Kryzhitsky exhibited the majority of his works at exhibitions organized by the Academy. A number of these works were acquired by members of the Imperial family, whom Kryzhitsky had been engaged by to teach to draw and paint. As the inscription on the reverse of this painting suggests, this work was acquired by Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna who married Prince Alfred, the second son of Queen Victoria, in 1874.