ИСТИНА

The famous Russian artist and writer Vassily Vereshchagin (1842-1904) has mostly been famous for his battle paintings. He participated in the Turkestan and Balkan wars of the 1860-1870s, and was killed in action during the Russo-Japanese war of 1904-1905. In his paintings Vereshchagin depicted both the 'patriotic' and 'non-patrioti' aspects of wars, for which was heavily criticized by Russia’s authorities. Another aspect of Vereshchagin’s creative activity was connected with vast travelling. His two visits to India (1874-1876, 1882-1883) resulted in a large series of paintings and drawings which he planned to call an 'Indian Poem'. One of his largest and most famous works of the series, 'Ceremonial Entry of the Prince of Wales, the Future King Edward VII, into Jaipur in 1876', is currently displayed in the Victoria Memorial in Kolkata. Vereshchagin shared impressions and thoughts about India with friends and acquaintances in his letters and also made extensive notes about the journeys, in which he described India as a unique part of the entire world boasting own culture thus contributing to the world historical heritage.