Mark Matveyevich Antokolsky, born on October 21 (November 2) 1843 in Vilna, was a renowned Russian realist sculptor. In 1871, he became an academician of the Imperial Academy of Arts, and from 1880, a professor of sculpture. His surname comes from the name of the suburb Antokol, where his family lived.

Antokolsky was one of eight children in a Jewish family. His parents, Matys Yankelovich and Keyla-Khena Benyaminovna, were religious and not wealthy. From childhood, Mark showed an interest in drawing, which was not always welcomed by his parents. However, they later sent him to study with a woodcarver. Thanks to the intervention of A. A. Nazimova, a patron of the arts, Antokolsky was admitted to the Academy of Arts as a free listener.

In 1864, Antokolsky received a silver medal for the bas-relief "Jewish Tailor," and in 1868, a gold medal for "The Miser." At the Academy, he mastered the Russian language and became fascinated with the history and literature of Russia. His first significant work was the statue "Ivan the Terrible" (1870), for which he received the title of academician. The statue impressed Emperor Alexander II, who purchased it for the Hermitage.

After graduating from the Academy in 1871, Antokolsky went to Rome and Paris, which was a common practice for graduates. In Rome, he worked on the statue of Peter I. At the 1878 World Exhibition in Paris, he received the highest award and the Order of the Legion of Honor. Antokolsky became an honorary member of many Western European academies.

In 1889, he created the statue "Nestor the Chronicler," and in 1891, he completed works "Yaroslav the Wise" and "Yermak." Antokolsky also wrote articles on art and left an autobiography. Shortly before his death, he wrote the novel "Ben-Isak."

After his death, a book about his life and work was published. Antokolsky passed away in Frankfurt am Main and was buried in St. Petersburg at the Preobrazhenskoe Jewish Cemetery. His grave is marked with a menorah, a Torah scroll, and a Star of David, as well as a bust by his student I. Ya. Ginzburg, which, according to some reports, was stolen in 1928.