Early Life and Training in the Imperial Capital Ivan Petrovich Vitali, born in Saint Petersburg in 1794, emerged from a lineage steeped in artistic tradition—his family were Italian craftsmen who had long established themselves within the Russian Empire. This heritage proved foundational to his development as one of Russia’s most celebrated sculptors of the 19th century. From an early age, Vitali was immersed in the world of art, apprenticed to his father, Pietro Vitali, a skilled artisan himself. However, his formal training began within the prestigious walls of the Imperial Academy of Arts…