120 - Julius von KLEVER (1850–1924)

Julius von KLEVER (1850–1924) Snowy Landscape Oil on canvas Signed lower right 78 x 58 cm (minor losses) Julius von KLEVER (1850–1924) was a German-Baltic painter who established himself as one of the masters of landscape painting in Russia. Born in Dorpat (now Tartu, Estonia) to a German family, he began his training under the landscape painter Constantin von Kügelgen before enrolling at the prestigious Imperial Academy of Arts in Saint Petersburg in 1867. His immense talent earned him rapid recognition: he began exhibiting as early as 1873 and became a professor at the Academy in 1881, at the age of 31. A favorite of the imperial family, he was ennobled by Tsar Alexander III in 1893. His fame extended far beyond Russia’s borders thanks to exhibitions in Munich, Paris, and Berlin—the city where he chose to settle and work after 1905. Julius von Klever’s unique style lies in his ability to capture nature. A specialist in melancholic landscapes, he remains famous for his depictions of deep forests, dramatic skies, and twilight winter scenes, which inspire a profound sense of contemplation.