John Augustus Atkinson

John Augustus Atkinson (c. 1775–1830) was an English artist, engraver, and watercolourist known for his depictions of Russian life and military scenes. Born in London, Atkinson moved to St. Petersburg in 1784, where his uncle, James Walker, served as the engraver to Empress Catherine the Great. While in Russia, Atkinson received encouragement from Catherine and her son, Paul I, to study in the imperial galleries, and he was commissioned to paint significant works on Russian historical subjects.

Atkinson returned to England in 1801 and published his influential A Picturesque Representation of the Manners, Customs, and Amusements of the Russians in 1803, a collection of 100 plates that he both drew and etched. This work showcased his detailed observations of Russian culture. He continued to paint in watercolours and was elected to the Society of Painters in Water Colours in 1808. His interest in military subjects, particularly naval warfare during the Napoleonic Wars, is evident in his numerous battle scenes, including a famous depiction of the Battle of Waterloo, which was engraved by John Burnet.

Atkinson exhibited works at the Royal Academy until 1829, just a year before his death in London on 25 March 1830. His legacy includes his contributions to documenting Russian life and history, as well as his evocative war paintings.