His father was a
feldsher and his family was poor. He was briefly employed by the
Ministry of Justice. In 1866, he began to take drawing lessons at the "
Imperial Society for the Encouragement of the Arts". He later studied at the
Imperial Academy of Fine Arts and honed his skills by doing sketches from nature. In 1870, he received the title of "Free Artist" in recognition of his painting "View of Saint Petersburg and Vicinity". In 1878, he joined the "Association of Travelling Art Exhibitions" (
Peredvizhniki) and presented annual displays of his work under their aegis. The death of his daughter in 1884 caused him several years of grief but, in 1888, he was finally able to make an extensive tour of Greece, Turkey, Egypt and Palestine with his wife, where he painted landscapes with sea views. Later, they toured the
Volga region. He became a full member of the Academy in 1895 and was named an Academician four years later. After the events of
Bloody Sunday, the Peredvizhniki came under police scrutiny, interest in their work began to decline and Volkov's career never recovered. He died in "genteel poverty" at his home on
Vasilievsky Island. ==Selected paintings==