Painter, master of monumental art, creator of historical-religious compositions, landscapes and portraits. Between 1877-1881 and 1883-1886 he studied at the MSPSA under V.G.Perov, A.K.Savrasov and I.M.Pryanishnikov. At the Academy of Arts (1881-1883) he was taught by P.P.Chistyakov. Between 1890-1895, he worked with V.M.Vasnetsov painting the Vladimir Cathedral in Kiev. A member of the STAE (from 1896) and a founding member of the URA (1903).M.V.Nesterov’s creatve work reflected the National Romanticism trends from the turn of the 20th century. From the beginning of his artistic career the artist gave credit to the tradition of the Peredvizhniki. Later, influenced by V.M. Vasnetsov, Nesterov explored the religious idea of the Russian soul, an image which in his work, is inseparable from nature. The late 1880s saw the appearance of such works as The Hermit (1888-1889), Young Bartholomew’s Vision (1889-1890). In the years he worked on the Vladimir Cathedral in Kiev he continued producing paintings dedicated to the life of St Sergy of Radonezh ("The Youth of the Venerable Sergy", 1892-1897). In the late 1890s he took up the theme of Russian women’s sacred life, continuing in the tradition of V.I. Surikov (Taking the Veil, 1897-1898). His work on the frescoes at the Convent of SS Martha and Mary (Marfo-Mariinskaya obitatel) in Moscow (1908-1911) found a special place among his creations. In the 1900s the image of nature transformed by spiritual contemplation takes a leading place in Nesterov’s creative ("Silence", 1903; "Autumn Landscape", 1906). Between 1914-1915 he worked on a large painting developing the traditons of A.A.Ivanov and V.I.Surikov entitled "Russia. The Soul of the People" (1914-1916). This religious, historical painting brings together the image of Sacred Russia on the eve of dramatic change in Russian life. The painting entitled "Philosophers" (1917) encompasses Nesterov’s deep feelings regarding religious explorations of the era. In the 1930s the Nesterov’s creativity flourishes once more: he produces an outstanding portrait gallery of some of his artistic contemporaries. Among the masterpieces are the portraits of V.M. Vasnetsov (1925), P.D. and A.D.Korin (1930) and the sculptress V.I.Mukhina (1940). In 1942 the artist was awarded the title, Honourary Artistic Worker of the RSFSR.