2018Classics of Estonian Painting - Special Folder

JOHANN KÖLER (1826–1899) was the first Estonian painter to acquire an academic education in art. He founded the Estonian portrait and landscape painting, and partially the Estonian genre painting as well. Köler was awarded a small gold medal upon graduation from the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts. He was part of the rise of the Estonian national awakening by acting as an intermediary between the Estonian nationals and the Russian authorities.