Leonid Pasternak was a renowned Russian post-impressionist painter and the father of poet Boris Pasternak. He was born in Odessa on April 4, 1862. Coming from an Orthodox Jewish family, he displayed early artistic talent, despite his family's concerns about its impact on his studies. At the age of seven, Pasternak found an early supporter in a local street cleaner who recognized his artistic talent and became his first patron, eagerly purchasing his artworks. 

After graduating from the Grekov Odessa Art School, Pasternak pursued higher education at Moscow University and later studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Munich. Returning to Russia, Leonid Pasternak embarked on a successful painting career. His debut exhibition caught the attention of prominent art patron Pavel Tretyakov, propelling him to fame. He joined the esteemed "Polenov circle" and married Rosa Isidorovna Kaufman, the daughter of a wealthy Jewish industrialist. Together, they settled in Moscow and welcomed their son Boris, who later became a renowned author and poet.

Leonid Pasternak's embrace of impressionism in the 1880s and 1890s garnered attention in the Russian art scene. He actively participated in the Peredvizhniki and Union of Russian Artists movements, while his friendship with Leo Tolstoy led to portraits and illustrations for the acclaimed writer's works, including "War and Peace" and "Resurrection."