Vasily Vereshchagin (1842-1904) was a Russian soldier, painter and traveller. He was born to a lesser noble family and sent to the Tsarskoe Selo military academy in 1850, 8 years old. in 1853, 11 years old he joined the Sea Cadet Corps in St Petersburg. He graduated in 1861 but left military service to attend the Imperial Academy of Fine Arts.

In 1863 he won a medal from the academy for his Ulysses Slaying the Suitors. In 1864, he went to Paris, 22 years old, where he studied under Jean-Léon Gérôme.

In 1867 he was invited to accompany General Konstantin Kaufman's expedition to Turkestan. He was granted the rank of ensign. His heroism at the siege of Samarkand from June 2-8, 1868 resulted an award of the Cross of St George (4th class).

Having jointed the diplomatic corps, Vereshchagin was posted throughout Central Asia, and his artistic skills matured. In 1871 he set up a studio in Munich and it was here the initial "Turkestan Series" was painted.

"Does war have two sides - one that is pleasant and attractive and the other that is ugly and repulsive? No, there is only one war, that attempts to force the enemy to kill, injure, or take as many people prisoner as possible, while the stronger adversary beats the weaker until the weaker pleads for mercy" said Vasily Vereshchagin.