The three boys were the sona of the famous General Nikolai Ivanovich Saltykov (31 October 1736 – 24 March 1816) and Natalya Vladimirovna Dolgorukaya (1737–1812).

In his youth he trained with the well-known Polish emigre artist Aleksander Orłowski, who likely influenced Saltykov's interest in ethnographic imagery of the Orient.

[1] One of Saltykov's earliest drawings, depicting the Persian embassy march along the Neva in St Petersburg, is now conserved at the Hermitage Museum.

[2] At the age of eighteen Saltykov joined the diplomatic services with the Russian State Board (Collegium) for Foreign Affairs in Moscow.

The 11th century Gloucester Candlestick was obtained by the V & A from (a) Prince Soltikoff in 1861[10] and the John Grandisson Triptych which is now in the British Museum was also once part of the Saltykov collection.