Karl Bryullov. The Last Day of Pompeii. 1833

The Last Day of Pompeii (Karl Brullov, 1833)

This was the first internationally-acclaimed canvas by a Russian painter. Those familiar with art shall see the similarities with David. Bryullov spent most of his working life in Italy, and much of his work is “sunnier” than this piece. Nevertheless, this is the piece that proclaimed that Russian art had “arrived”.