Vasily Dmitrievich Polenov (1844-1927) - Russian artist, master of historical, landscape and genre painting, teacher, representative of a highly intelligent noble family, participant in the Russian-Turkish war, author of scenery for theatrical productions, member of the Association of Traveling Art Exhibitions, big music lover and author of several musical works. An extremely charming person, connected by many years of friendly ties with prominent representatives of the artistic world of Russia in the late XIX - early XX centuries. This is how Vasily Polenov appears in the wonderful biography of Mark Kopshitser, written in excellent literary language and masterfully combining the detail and thoroughness of a solid art history study with the entertainment of a biographical novel.