Nicholas Roerich was a Russian painter, philosopher, and spiritualist who played a prominent role in the Russian avant-garde movement. He was born in St. Petersburg and trained at the Academy of Fine Arts in the city. Roerich's early work was influenced by Russian folk art, but he later became interested in the esoteric and spiritual aspects of art. He traveled extensively throughout Russia, Central Asia, and India, and his experiences of these regions influenced his art and philosophy.