Nicholas Roerich (1874–1947) — a Russian painter, scenic designer, scientist, writer, traveller, and public figure. He is considered to be an unsurpassed master of mountains. He was taught drawing by Mikhail Mikeshin (1881–1893). Roerich studied at the Faculty of Law in St. Petersburg University (1893–1898), at the Academy of Art (1893–1901) where he was taught by Arkhip Kuinji, and at the studio of F. Cormon in Paris (1900–1901). In 1909, he became an Academician of Painting. He executed more than 7,000 paintings united into thematic cycles and series. As a scenic designer, he took part in famous Diaghilev's “Russian Seasons” in Paris. Roerich also was engaged in literary work and wrote poems, tales and apologues. Many of them are literary parallels of his canvases. All his life he generously presented the world with his talent, and only in the future it will be possible to realise the true value of his work.
