Henryk Siemiradzki
Henryk Hektor Siemiradzki was a Polish painter, best remembered for his monumental Academic art. He was particularly known for his depictions of scenes from the ancient GraecoRoman world and the New Testament, owned by national galleries of Poland, Russia and Ukraine.
Siemiradzki was born to a Polish noble szlachta family of an officer of the Imperial Russian Army, Hipolit Siemiradzki, and Michalina in the village of Bilhorod , or Novobelgorod near the city of Kharkov in the Russian Empire, where his fathers regiment was stationed. The family had origins in Radom land and derived its name from the village of Siemiradz. One of the branches settled in the late 17th century near Navahrudak . Henryks grandfather held the post of podkomorzy in Nowogrdek powiat. His parents were close friends with Adam Mickiewiczs family. He studied at Kharkov Gymnasium where he first learned painting under the local school teacher, D.I. Besperchy, former student of Karl Briullov. He entered the PhysicsMathematics School of Kharkov University and studied natural sciences there with great interest, but also continued to paint.
Source: Wikipedia