Carl Timoleon von Neff

Carl Timoleon von Neff studied at Dresden Academy of Fine Arts. Nikolai Bodarevsky is recorded as having studied under Carl Timoleon von Neff. The recorded working language is German. Subjects and genres recorded for the work are portrait. Places of work recorded in the authority are Dresden, Rome and Saint Petersburg. Employment is recorded with Imperial Academy of Arts. Positions recorded include court painter. Work by Carl Timoleon von Neff is recorded in the collections of Finnish National Gallery, Hermitage Museum, Yekaterinburg Museum of Fine Arts, Russian Museum and Art Museum of Estonia. Distinctions recorded are Order of St.

• Name — Carl Timoleon von Neff • Born — 14 October 1804 • Birthplace — Püssi, Governorate of Estonia, Russian Empire • Died — 5 January 1877 • Place of death — Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire • Children — two • Training — * Karl von Kügelgen • Ferdinand Hartmann • Education — Dresden Academy of Fine Arts • Style — Academism • Patrons — * Tsar Nicholas I • Maria Nikolaevna, Duchess of Leuchtenberg • Duke Georg August of Mecklenburg-Strelitz • Elected — Member Professor • Resting Place — St. Simon & St. Jude's Church (Simuna, Estonia), Simuna, Estonia

Carl Timoleon von Neff was born at a manor house in Neu-Isenhof (Püssi), Kreis Wierland in the Governorate of Estonia of the Russian Empire (present-day Estonia) in 1804. His mother was a French governess at the estate; he was an illegitimate child. He began studying art in Estonia under the tutelage of Karl von Kügelgen and continued at the Academy of Arts in Dresden, present-day Germany. He graduated from there in 1825. Following his graduation, he travelled and divided his time between his native Estonia, Italy and Saint Petersburg, the Imperial capital. In St. Petersburg he received a commission to paint the daughters of the emperor Nicholas I. The portrait was apparently well received as he from this time onward became tied to the court, and made a career as an artist working for the higher echelons of society. He received prestigious commissions in both St. Petersburg and abroad. In recognition for his work, especially for contributing to the artistic embellishment of several churches, he was generously awarded with different forms of official recognition, such as orders and titles. In addition, he became one of the emperor's closest advisers in questions related to art. In 1846, he was made an honorary member of the Academy of Florence and after finishing the decoration of parts of the iconostasis of St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg, was nominated to become a member of the Russian Imperial Academy of Arts. Following his many successes he built an Italianate manor house to house his personal art collection in Muuga, Estonia.

As a court artist, von Neff was appreciated as a portraitist and painter of typically academical subjects which were then popular, notably odalisque-like nude bathers and nymphs. As mentioned, he contributed to the artistic decoration of Saint Isaac's Cathedral, St. Petersburg, Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, Moscow, and Helsinki Cathedral, in present-day Finland, as well as churches outside the Russian empire - e.g. in Nice, France and Wiesbaden, present-day Germany. Several of his works are displayed in the Art Museum of Estonia today.

• Illustration — Portrait of Grand Duchess Alexandra Petrovna of Russia • Illustration — Young Mother • Illustration — The Bather • Illustration — The Angel • Illustration — Italian street children

The authorities additionally record the headings Timofey Andreyevich Neff, Timoleon Carl Andrejewitsch von Neff, Timoleon von Neff, Timofey Andreevich Neff and Timofej Andreevič Neff. His recorded language was German. He was the child of Heinrich Zoege von Mateuffel. He married Luise Neff. 2 children are recorded: Heinrich Neff and Marie von Gruenewaldt.

His work is associated with academic art. He was employed by Imperial Academy of Arts. Recorded position is court painter. He worked at Dresden, Rome and Saint Petersburg.

Carl Timoleon von Neff is recorded as painter, university teacher and land owner.