Ivan Trutnev

In 1866, he became a teacher of drawing and calligraphy at the Gymnasium in Vitebsk. Later that year, however, he was contacted by the trustees of the Vilnius School District and invited to organize an art school there. Apparently, it had been nearly impossible to find good, local, painters to do Eastern Orthodox Church icons and murals since Vilnius University was closed in 1831. He moved to Vilnius and immediately began teaching a wide variety of art-related topics at several schools. At that time, he also began participating in exhibitions held by the Peredvizhniki. In 1868, he became an Academician.[2]

Jews at Prayer (1911)

Over the next few years, in addition to teaching, he created numerous religious works and portraits of well-known academics and politicians, together with a wide selection of genre scenes. In 1897, he collaborated with the sculptor Matvey Chizhov and the architectural historian Vasiliy Griaznov to create a monument for Mikhail Muravyov in Vilnius. He also created a large number of icons for nearby areas,[2] as well as Minsk, Lublin and Warsaw.

By the time of his death, his art school had been attended by almost 4,000 students, 193 of whom graduated and went on to the Imperial Academy or other institutions in Russia and abroad. He was also active in cultural and philanthropical affairs and was the recipient of numerous state awards, such as the Orders of St.Vladimir and St.Anna. He painted very little during his last years, due to failing eyesight.