Empress Eugénie, 19th century - Public domain portrait print

Sergei Luvovich Levitsky upon his return to Russia, Levitsky opened his own photography studio in St Petersburg in 1844. His studio quickly became popular with the aristocracy and he became the official photographer of the Russian royal family. Levitsky is best known for his portraits of the Russian royal family, including Tsar Alexander II and his family. His portraits were highly regarded for their technical excellence and artistic quality. Levitsky's use of lighting and composition helped to establish photography as a legitimate art form in Russia. In addition to his portraits, Levitsky also photographed landscapes, architecture and everyday life in Russia. He was a pioneer in the use of colour photography, experimenting with various techniques to produce colour images. Levitsky's legacy lives on today through his photographs, which provide a valuable insight into Russian life in the 19th century. He died on 22 April 1898 in St Petersburg, Russia.