Jonas Rustemas

Born in 1762 in Constantinople; died June 9 (21), 1835, in Dūkštas, Ignalina Raion. Lithuanian painter and draftsman.

Rustemas studied in Warsaw with J. P. Norblin and M. Bacciarelli. From 1788 to 1790 he studied in Germany. He taught at the University of Vilnius from 1798 to 1832 and was made a professor there in 1811. Rustemas’ paintings and drawings, most of which are portraits, are in the early romantic style. His works in the Vilnius Picture Gallery include Self-portrait, Grandmother and Granddaughter, and drawings of scenes from the lives of peasants and city dwellers. Rustemas’ Portrait of an Unknown Woman and Portrait of the Postmaster in Vilnius are in the M. K. Čiurlionis Kaunas Art Museum.