Nikolai Lieberich is renowned for his small figurines and group statuettes, the majority of which depict hunting and military scenes and represent a seminal period in the history of Russian sculpture. A retired colonel of the Emperor's Guard, he later became an academic at the Emperor's Academy of Arts. His work, noted for its deep knowledge of the subject and the fineness of craftsmanship, were recognized by contemporaries and contributed to the overall success of Russian sculpture at the World Fair in London (1862, 1872) and in Paris (1867).