Traveling through the ancient Russian cities of western and central Russia, N.K. Roerich depicted the monuments of ancient architecture. Some studies of the Roerich’s architectural series are dedicated to Smolensk monuments. Smolensk is the central point of communication between Ancient Russia and Western Europe; it has been known since the 10th century. By the order of Boris Godunov, it was surrounded by a wall, that was later transformed into a military fortress at the times of Peter the Great. In Smolensk, the artist devoted his time to studying and painting the famous Smolensk walls.

On the sketch, a round tower occupies the entire space. Powerful, thick-walled, it seems at the same time to be light because of the sunlight that floods it.