Janis Rozentāls was a renowned Latvian artist and one of the key founders of the Latvian National School of Art. Born into a family of rural blacksmiths, Rozentāls showed artistic talent at an early age. He relocated to Riga, where he studied at the Riga School of the German Handicraft Society, copying works at the City Art Gallery and delving into portrait painting.

In 1888, Rozentāls gained admission to the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts as a free listener. Under the guidance of Vladimir Makovsky, he completed his thesis titled "From the Church," which earned him the prestigious first-degree artist award in 1894. He officially obtained his diploma in 1896 after successfully passing the examination.

After completing his studies, Rozentāls spent winters in St. Petersburg, and summers in Latvia, and embarked on travels to Sweden, France, and Germany. He actively participated in the Latvian artists' circle known as "Rukis." In 1901, he settled in Riga, having previously resided in Saldus from 1899 to 1901.

Rozentāls also made significant contributions as a teacher, working at the School of Fine Arts (1905-1906) and the Riga City School of Fine Arts (1906-1910). He served as the art editor for various magazines.

Janis Rozentāls demonstrated a broad range of creativity encompassing landscapes, figurative genres, mythology, portraiture, book illustrations, and drawings. His artistic contributions played a pivotal role in establishing the Latvian National School of Art, leaving a lasting impact on Latvian art and culture.