Pan-American Union in the context of "Nicholas Roerich"

Nikolai Konstantinovich Rerikh (Russian: Николай Константинович Рерих), better known as Nicholas Roerich (/ˈrɛrɪk/; October 9, 1874 – December 13, 1947), was a Russian painter, writer, archaeologist, theosophist, philosopher, and public figure. In his youth he was influenced by Russian Symbolism, a movement in Russian society centered on the spiritual. He was interested in hypnosis and other spiritual practices and his paintings are said to have hypnotic expression.

Born in Saint Petersburg to a well-to-do Baltic German father and a Russian mother, Roerich lived in various places until his death in Naggar, India. Trained as an artist and lawyer, his main interests were literature, philosophy, archaeology, and especially art. Roerich was a dedicated activist for the cause of preserving art and architecture during times of war. He was nominated several times for the Nobel Peace Prize. The so-called Roerich Pact for the protection of cultural objects was signed into law by the United States and most other nations of the Pan-American Union in April 1935.