ivan shishkin owned a dacha in vyra, south from st. petersburg. there he painted some of his finest landscapes. his works are notable for poetic depiction of seasons in the woods, wild nature, animals and birds. in 1891, he was appointed professor-director of the landscape class in the academy's advanced art school. in 1898, he completed his painting "the pine grove" and died on 20 march in st. petersburg, while working on his new painting.