This painting depicts key milestones of Russian history in allegorical form. The figure of Grand Prince Vladimir of Kiev with a cross in his hand embodies Rus’s conversion to Christianity in 988. Peter the Great, resting his hand on the rudder of a ship with the Star of St Andrew on his chest, symbolises the beginning of a new era in Russian history that is connected with the Europeanisation of public life. Alexander II, wielding a paper with "19 February 1861" written on it, proclaims the abolition of serfdom and begins the epoch of Liberty.

Bończa-Tomaszewski Julian

Bończa-Tomaszewski, Julian
1834, St Petersburg – 1899 (?), St Petersburg
Painter, author of history paintings and portraits. Studied at the Imperial Academy of Arts (till 1859). Lived in Naples (1860), Paris (1861–1877), St Petersburg (from 1877). Academician (from 1864). Contributed to exhibitions of the Imperial Academy of Arts (from 1864), Paris Salon (1860s), World Exhibitions in Philadelphia (1876) and Berlin (1886). One-man show in St Petersburg (1893).