Russian

The Russian culture is rooted in the early East Slavic culture.

Culture of Ancient Rus involved the conversion to Orthodox Christianity and the acceptance of Byzantine art and architecture. The acceptance of Byzantine culture included the adoption of icon painting. The Church had resources to commission great works of art, as well as the will and means to preserve them.

Around 1890 a new form of art the Russian avant-garde took development. The Russian avant-garde is a form of modern art. However, it developed into Soviet art when the government elected to control all art forms.

--wikipedia