Pyotr Nikolaevich Georgian (1837-1892) was an artist and academic of the Imperial Academy of Arts. Despite his surname, he was not born in Georgia, but in the Kursk province, in the family of a poor Russian landowner. According to legend, his father received such an unusual surname from ancestors who participated in the conquest of the Caucasus.

At the age of 14, Pyotr Georgian decided to study at the Imperial Academy of Arts. During his studies, he created paintings that brought him fame in artistic circles: "The Bivouac of the Life Guards Cossack Regiment," "Soldiers-Furagers," "Gypsy Camp." He also painted on current topics. In 1860, his graduation work was the canvas "The Capture of the Aul of Gunib," dedicated to the defeat of Imam Shamil's troops. For this work, he received a gold medal and was sent abroad to improve his skills.

In Paris, Georgian created another work on the theme of the Caucasian War: "The Abandonment of Villages by Mountaineers upon the Approach of Russian Troops." This painting was so expressive that at its first presentation, he immediately received the title of academician of battle painting. Leading museums in England, Austria-Hungary, and France sought to display this canvas at their exhibitions.

However, Pyotr Nikolaevich himself preferred to paint scenes dedicated to everyday Russian life. He created a large cycle of genre scenes and landscapes, including "Postal Troika," "Woodcutters," "The Village Celebrates," and others. In 1876, his works "Troika in a Blizzard" and "Meeting of the Newlyweds" were presented at an exhibition in Philadelphia, attracting visitors' attention with their sincerity and craftsmanship. Particularly famous through reproductions is the painting "Riding at Maslenitsa," the original of which is kept in the Museum of Horse Breeding of the Timiryazev Moscow Agricultural Academy. It depicts troikas racing down an evening village street. After the blizzard, a piece of crimson sunset sky is visible among the clouds. Despite the frost and wind, nothing hinders the celebration of the joyful Russian holiday.