The Academy and the Eye St. Petersburg, 1782. A child of German descent enters a world defined by the rigid structures of the Imperial Academy of Arts. Alexander Varnek begins his training under the watchful eyes of Dmitry Levitzky and Stepan Shchukin. These mentors instill in him the foundations of draughtsmanship that will later define his career. The years between 1801 and 1809 see him traveling abroad as a representative of the Academy, absorbing the light and techniques of distant lands before returning to Russia to take up roles as professor and advisor. The atmosphere in St. Petersbu…