Much has been written about the classical training received by members of the Artist Union. The youth of Semen Rotnitski illustrated the years these artists dedicated to their profession. By the time he was eight years old, Rotnitski was studying art in Minsk, Byelorussia, where he was born. Further study followed at the Factory Palace of Culture Art Studio in Tula, where his family had relocated. Four years later he was accepted at the Russian National Academy of Arts Institute in Leningrad for another four years of preparatory classed before becoming a student.

Mr. Rotnitski was a foremost portrait painter from Russia, and became a professor of art at Kazan Art College between 1948-1960; Leningrad Higher Arts and Crafts College from 1965-1981.

Information from "A Dictionary of Twentieth Century Russian And Soviet Painters" 1900-1980's.  Photo of work on page 262, plate number 246.