Nicholas Roerich

Who was Nicholas Roerich?

Nicholas Roerich — known also as Nikolai Konstantinovich Rerikh — was a Russian painter, writer, archaeologist, theosophist, enlightener, philosopher, and public figure.

Born in Saint Petersburg, Russia to the family of a well-to-do notary public, he lived in various places around the world until his death in Naggar, Himachal Pradesh, India. Trained as an artist and a lawyer, his main interests were literature, philosophy, archaeology, and especially art. Roerich was a dedicated activist for the cause of preserving art and architecture during times of war. He earned several nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize. The so-called Roerich Pact was signed into law by the United States and most nations of the Pan-American Union during April 1935.