The great painter was born on January 12, 1848, in Krasnoyarsk into a Cossack family. After the early death of his father, the family faced difficulties, and Vasily's mother was forced to rent out the second floor of their house. Money was barely enough, but noticing her son's passion for drawing, she found a way to pay for painting lessons. Vasily's first teacher was N. V. Grebnev from the Krasnoyarsk district school.

The earliest work of Surikov that has survived to this day is the watercolor "Rafts on the Yenisei," created at the age of 14. After graduating from school, his mother could not afford to continue his education, and he got a job as a clerk in the provincial administration. However, his talent was noticed by Governor P. Zamyatin, who found a patron to fund Surikov's studies at the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts.

At the Academy, Vasily studied under P. Chistyakov and quickly became one of the best students, receiving prizes and medals. Surikov's first significant painting was "View of the Monument to Peter I on Senate Square in St. Petersburg," sold to the patron P. Kuznetsov. Later, he gifted him the painting "The Good Samaritan."

Surikov reluctantly painted portraits on commission, but he did so for financial independence. Music, especially opera, inspired him, and he taught himself to play the guitar. It took about three years to create "The Morning of the Streltsy Execution," but this work brought him recognition and membership in the Society for the Promotion of Arts.

Surikov had long dreamed of a trip to Europe, and by selling one of his works, he fulfilled his dream by visiting famous galleries and museums. In 1881, he began working on "Boyarynya Morozova," dedicating much time to finding the perfect composition.

Among Surikov's important paintings are "The Capture of the Snow Town," "Suvorov's Crossing of the Alps," and "Stepan Razin." His work can be studied starting from the 3rd grade, as the paintings are of high artistic value.

Surikov's only love was his wife, Yelizaveta Augustovna Share. They married in 1878 and became parents to two daughters, Olga and Elena. However, ten years later, his wife passed away, leaving the artist in depression, from which he emerged thanks to his creativity.

In his later years, Surikov's health deteriorated. He went to Crimea for treatment, but it did not help. On March 6, 1916, the great artist passed away from ischemic heart disease.