Alessandro Molinari

A German-born painter of Italian origin, Molinari studied at the Prussian Academy of Arts in Berlin. In 1795 he started working in Vienna and Glogau, where he decorated the Jesuit church with the help of E.T.A. Hoffmann. He then moved to Weimar around 1800, but lack of success in Germany prompted him to try Russia. He arrived in Moscow in 1806, and became part of the Italian community headed by Salvatore Tonci. His miniature portraits became hugely fashionable among the Russian aristocracy, and he travelled widely in Russia on work. In 1812 Molinary opened a confectionery shop on Nevsky Prospekt in St. Petersburg. He left Russia in 1816 and returned to Germany.

Works: Portrait of an unknown man (Hermitage Museum), Portrait of Christopher Raeder (Hermitage Museum)