The creative heritage of Viktor Vasnetsov presents a vivid variety of genres, which became stages of a very interesting evolution: from scenes of everyday life to fairy tales, from easel painting to monumental painting, from prosaicness of peredvizhniki to the prototype of art nouveau style.

Viktor Mikhaylovich Vasnetsov was born on May, 15th, 1848 in Lopyal Village of Urzhumsky District of Vyatka Province (nowadays the Kirov Region), into the family of the orthodox priest Viktor Mikhaylovich Vasnetsov (1823-1870), the descendant of the ancient Vyatka family of the Vasnetsovs.

Viktor Vasnetsov studied in the religious school (1858—1862) and then in the Vyatka theological seminary. He took painting lessons from the gymnasia’s art teacher N.G. Chernyshev. With the blessing of his father the future artist left the seminary on the last but one year of studies and left for Petersburg to enter the Academy of Arts. First he studied painting under Ivan Kramskoi at the Drawing School of Society for Encouragement of Arts (1867—1868), then in the Academy of Arts (1868—1873). During his studies he came to Vyatka and got acquainted with the exiled Polish artist Elwiro Andriolli, whom he asked to teach painting to his brother Apollinary.

After graduation from the Academy Vasnetsov travelled abroad. He started exhibited his works in 1869, at first participating in the Academy’s expositions, and then in exhibitions of peredvizhniki artists. He was also a member of Savva Mamontov’s circle in Abramtzevo. In 1893 Vasnetsov became the full member of the Academy of Arts. After 1905 he was close to the Union of the Russian People; though not its member, he participated in financing and designing monarchic editions, including the Book of Russian Grief.

In 1915 he participated in establishment of the Society for Revival of Artistic Russia along with lots of other contemporary artists.

Viktor Vasnetsov died on July, 23rd, 1926 in Moscow and was laid to rest at Vvedensky Cemetery.