In the nineteenth century, Russia gifted the world many outstanding personalities, and one of these geniuses was Mikhail Osipovich Mikeshin, born in Smolensk to a salt tax collector's family. His love for painting led him to the icon painter Tita Andronovich, but the young talent needed a more professional school. State Councilor Andrei Alexandrovich Vonyarlyansky decided to help his fellow countryman and paid for his education at the Imperial Academy of Arts. He convinced Mikeshin's parents to let him go to the capital.

Mikeshin immediately attracted the attention of his teachers, and at the end of his studies, his painting "The Life Guards at the Watering Place" was purchased by Emperor Nicholas I himself. However, true fame awaited him ahead. At the age of 23, he graduated from the academy, received a large gold medal for his work "Tilly's Entry into Magdeburg," and the title of class artist. Despite his youth, he quickly became one of the leading Russian painters and decided to participate in the competition for the design of the Millennium Monument of Russia. His victory in the competition was a true breakthrough: he was awarded the Order of Saint Vladimir of the 4th degree and a lifetime pension of 1200 rubles. This was followed by commissions not only from Russia but also from abroad. Monuments were erected in various cities based on his designs, including Nizhny Novgorod, Nikolaev, Rostov-on-Don, Novocherkassk, Lisbon, and Belgrade. He also designed the tomb of Prince Pozharsky.

At 34, Mikhail Osipovich was awarded the title of academician. He was a man of broad interests and, in addition to painting, engaged in editorial work for a satirical magazine. At the time of his death, he was only 60 years old, and perhaps this was for the best, as after the Bolsheviks came to power, many of his works were destroyed, which would have been extremely difficult to endure. In our time, the memory of the great master is gradually being restored, and a monument has been erected to him in Smolensk.