Illarion Pryanishnikov was a prominent Russian painter and one of the founders of the Peredvizhniki artistic movement, which emerged as a significant Russian art school in the late 19th century. Fr om 1856 to 1866, he studied at the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture under the guidance of Evgraf Sorokin and Sergey Zaryanko. In his final year of education, Pryanishnikov gained wide recognition with his painting "Jokers. Gostiny Dvor in Moscow." This small canvas depicted the theme of human dignity being humiliated in a world driven by callousness and cruelty, wh ere everything is commodified. The painting, which showcased a gallery of morally deformed and complacent characters, stirred controversy among proponents of official academic art who saw Pryanishnikov as challenging the "elevated" purpose of art to express eternal truths in idealized forms.

Fr om 1873 until his death, Illarion Pryanishnikov worked as a teacher at the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture, wh ere he mentored notable artists such as Konstantin Korovin, Vitold Byalynitsky-Birulya, Mikhail Nesterov, and Alexei Stepanov.

As a member of the Peredvizhniki group from its inception, Pryanishnikov actively participated in their exhibitions and served as one of the directors. Although primarily based in Moscow, he frequently traveled to the Russian north, sketching and drawing inspiration. Pryanishnikov also contributed to the decoration of the original Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, which was later demolished in 1931.

Illarion Pryanishnikov passed away in Moscow, and in his honor, one of the streets in the city was named after him, paying tribute to his lasting artistic legacy.