Maksim Nikiforovich Vorobyov was born on August 17, 1787 in Pskov. He was the son of a senior officer who served as a watchman at the Academy of Arts. Thanks to his father, the boy was familiar with art from childhood and dreamed of drawing. At the age of ten, he became a student where his parent worked.

Vorobyov’s life was going well. In 1814, he received the title of academician, and a year later he began teaching. In 1823, he became a professor, and 20 years later, an honored professor.

Maxim Nikiforovich enthusiastically painted seascapes and city landscapes, painstakingly captured monuments and views of nature. From his works, one can trace what St. Petersburg looked like in the past.

In his personal life, Maxim Nikiforovich was also wonderful. He married his beloved girl – Cleopatra Loginovna. She was nine years younger than him.

The couple had one son. They named him Socrates. Years later, Socrates Maksimovich would continue his father’s work – he would become an artist, teach at the Academy and receive the title of professor.

Maxim Vorobyov traveled a lot and the countries he visited can be seen in his works. The public liked the artist’s works and he had no problem finding customers.

Everything was fine until tragedy struck. Maxim Nikiforovich’s beloved wife died in 1840, at the age of 44. The artist did not expect such a loss, he was so broken by what happened that he was never able to recover. To drown out the pain, Vorobyov became addicted to drinking.

One of Maxim Nikiforovich’s best paintings is considered to be the work that became an allegory for the death of his wife. It is called “Oak, Shattered by Lightning”.

Vorobyov’s life suddenly lost its meaning. There was work left, from which he drew strength, but everything rushed downwards… Mental loneliness, attempts to distract himself, drinking had a bad effect on the painter’s health. He began to paint less often. Everything was leading to one thing – to the desire to unite forever with his beloved wife. Maxim Nikiforovich died in the autumn of 1855. He was buried in the Smolensk Orthodox Cemetery next to his wife. As he wanted.