The work of Vasily Dmitrievich Polenov is one of the most significant phenomena in Russian painting of the second half of the 19th century. Not only his art, but also the personality of the artist himself was surrounded by real worship of artistic youth. The versatility of the artist’s talent truly knew no bounds: he was a painter and theater artist, an architect, a musician and composer, a theater and public figure, a talented teacher - his students were I. I. Levitan, K. A. Korovin, I. S. Ostroukhov, A. E. Arkhipov, A. Ya. Golovin, E. M. Tatevosyan. He designed performances at the Moscow Mamontov Private Opera, organized amateur theater, arranging folk performances and concerts. As a volunteer he participated in two wars; one of the first to receive the title of People's Artist of the RSFSR. The book about Polenov is a deep, intelligent, sensitive study of the life of not only an outstanding artist, but also a wonderful person, whose friendship was valued by many representatives of the creative intelligentsia of Russia.