The artist is Boncha Tomashevsky
The picture in an allegorical form depicts the most important milestones in the history of Russia. The figure of the Kyiv Grand Duke Vladimir with a cross in his hand personifies the adoption of Christianity in Rus’ in 988. Emperor Peter I, resting with his hand on the ship’s steering wheel, with the St. Andrew star on his chest, symbolizes the beginning of a new historical stage in Russian history related to the Europeanization of social life. Alexander II, holding a sheet in his hands with the inscription “February 19, 1861”, proclaims the abolition of serfdom and opens the era of freedom. (E. Sh.)
Electronic catalog “Heroes and villains of Russian history”. SPb, 2010. With. 310.