Mikhail Andreevich Savitsky (18.02.1922, v. Zvenyachi, Tolochin district, Vitebsk region – 08.11.2010), painter. Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (1995). Academician of the Academy of Arts of the USSR (1983), Russian Academy of Arts (1991). Hero of Belarus (2006). People's Artist of the USSR (1978), People's Artist of the BSSR (1972). Honored Artist of the BSSR (1970). The participant of the Great Patriotic War, a prisoner of the concentration camps of Buchenwald, Dachau, Dora. Deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the BSSR in 1975-1990.
Creativity is distinguished by a deep insight into the essence of the phenomena of the past and present, their philosophical understanding, the assertion of the eternal spiritual values of humanity. The author of well-known paintings dedicated to the heroic partisan struggle against the Nazi invaders: "Guerrillas" (1963), "Guerrilla Madonna" and "Vitebsk Gate" (both 1967), "Field" and "Weeping for the dead heroes" (both 1974) others, as well as the cycle of 16 paintings "Figures in the Heart" (1974-80) and the triptych "Aggression" (1984), imbued with anti-fascist pathos and publicism. Many paintings are devoted to the history of the formation of the Belarusian national culture: "Cebita" (1972), "Vilna meetings" (1976); a cycle of paintings for the Y. Kupala Museum in Minsk, Christian themes, and others. The Black Belt Series reflected the tragedy of the Belarusian people in connection with the Chernobyl disaster. The scale and symbolism of the artistic language are characteristic of works in monumental art: "the Great Patriotic War. 1944" murals in the Museum of the History of the Great Patriotic War in Minsk (1971) and the "Generation Relay" in the Belarus Sanatorium in Mishor (Ukraine, 1973), tapestries for the conference room of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Belarus (now the residence of the President of the Republic of Belarus, 1978-1979, the last three in collaboration with A. Kischenko).
State Prizes of Belarus in 1970, 1980, 1996, State Prize of the USSR in 1973. International Prize of the Foundation of the Holy All-Sovereign Apostle Andrew the First-Called for 1999.
Awarded with the Order of Lenin (1982), the Red Banner of Labor (1972), World War of the II degree (1985), the Badge of Honor (1967), Francisk Skaryna (1997). Honorary Citizen of Minsk (2001).