Background
His father, Alexander Brullov, was a Professor of Architecture at the Imperial Academy of Arts and his uncle was the well-known painter Karl Bryullov.
His father, Alexander Brullov, was a Professor of Architecture at the Imperial Academy of Arts and his uncle was the well-known painter Karl Bryullov.
He originally studied physics and mathematics at Saint St. Petersburg State University, becoming a Candidate in 1863.
At the same time (from 1861 to 1864) he took classes in architecture at the Academy, where he studied under Konstantin Thon, Andrei Stackenschneider, David Grimm and his father. In 1864, he graduated with the rank of "Artist Third-Degree". Following this, he went abroad, visiting Italy, France and England.
In Paris, he attended the classes of Léon Bonnat at the École des Beaux-arts
From 1897 to 1912, he was Curator of the art department at the Russian Museum.
From 1872 until his death, he was a member of the "Association of Travelling Art Exhibitions" (Peredvizhniki), serving as their treasurer and governing board member. In 1883, he became a full member of the Academy, serving on the board after 1904.