Ivan Kulikov

His father was a roofer and house painter who headed a small cooperative that built and repaired numerous structures there.

[1] In 1893, a local teacher became impressed with his drawing skills an introduced him to Alexander Morozov, who spent the summers painting in Murom.

[1] From 1901 to 1902, he and Boris Kustodiev helped Repin paint his monumental work (app.13 x 29 feet) "Ceremonial Sitting of the State Council on 7 May 1901 Marking the Centenary of its Foundation" for the Mariinsky Palace; providing sketches for most of the portraits.

[2] In that capacity, he worked vigorously to collect, not only art objects, but documents, books and various historical relics from buildings that were abandoned or due to be demolished; as well as items that were looted during the war.

[1] Among the most notable things he saved was a collection of paleolithic objects gathered by Aleksey Uvarov and left at his estate near Murom.