Mikhail Petrovich Solovyov

Amateur artist, miniaturist, illustrator, civil servant, writer on art. Born in the family of Pyotr Solovyov in St Petersburg (1841). Graduated from the Faculty of Law of Moscow University (1864). Worked for the Russian civil service. Member of the Orthodox Palestinian Society (from 1890), published several books on the Holy Land. Illustrated the holy scriptures and Dante’s Divine Comedy. Councillor (1896) and director (until 1900) of the Central Printing Board. Died in St Petersburg and buried at the St Alexander Nevsky Monastery (1901).