Mikhail Nesterov

Mikhail Nesterov was a Russian painter who was associated with the Peredvizhniki and Mir Iskusstva movements. He was one of the first exponents of Symbolist art in Russia. He was born in Ufa in 1862 and studied at the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture and the Imperial Academy of Arts. He was influenced by Orthodox icons and Russian folk art. He created a series of paintings on the life of Saint Sergius of Radonezh, which brought him fame and recognition. He also painted historical and religious scenes, such as The Holy Rus, The Murder of False Dmitry, and The Inquisition. He participated in the decoration of several churches and cathedrals, such as St Volodymyr's Cathedral in Kiev, St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia, and the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow. He was a tutor to the Grand Duchesses and a friend of many writers and artists. He died in Moscow in 1942.