The book recreates the dramatic circumstances of the life and work of the outstanding Russian painter and graphic artist of the first half of the 19th century, Pavel Fedotov, author of the famous paintings “Major's Matchmaking”, “Widow”, “Anchor, More Anchor!”, “Players”, etc. Personality Traits the artist emerges in the memoirs of his contemporaries, in Fedotov’s own literary and poetic works and, most importantly, in his painting. The author, the famous art critic and historian Erast Davidovich Kuznetsov, paying special attention to the unique role of Fedotov in the formation of the Russian everyday genre, reveals the meaning, originality and significance of it creativity.