A tempera painting by Nicholas Roerich depicting St. Sergius chopping wood in a snow-covered landscape with a small chapel and mountains in the background. The artwork employs a cool colour palette and simplified forms.

Nicholas Roerich (1874-1947) was a Russian painter, writer, archaeologist, and public figure whose extensive and varied body of work reflects his interests in symbolism, spirituality, and the cultural heritage of Russia and Asia. He is known for his distinctive style, which combines elements of symbolism with a simplified, almost poster-like aesthetic. His paintings often depict mystical or historical subjects, rendered in a palette of cool blues, greens, and browns. 'St. Sergius the Buildert' presents a winter scene dominated by snow-covered ground and tall, slender trees. A figure, presumably St. Sergius, is depicted in the act of chopping wood near a small wooden chapel. The background features snow-laden mountains under a sky rendered in shades of blue and grey. A brown bear sits to the left of the frame. The composition is relatively flat, with a focus on the arrangement of shapes and colours rather than deep perspective. The colour palette is dominated by cool tones, with blues and whites creating a sense of winter's chill. The painting's simplified forms and muted colours contribute to its spiritual and contemplative mood.