Kristjan and his twin brother Paul were born October 22, 1865 in the village of Kirikou parish Viru-Jaagupi. The childhood and young brothers were held in Meriküla, where his father worked as a field Ranger. He died early.
In the early years of the brothers awakened interest in drawing. Subsequently, both became artists.Nine years, has studied in agriculture, then in the parish schools and Rakvere district school. The training was conducted in the German language. Education was continued in Tartu - the first in a real school, and then in the Seminary, training school teachers.
In Tartu began the labour activity of K. Raud as a school teacher. In 1892 he went to St. Petersburg and soon on the advice of a distinguished Estonian artist Professor Johan köhler arrives in St. Petersburg Academy of arts. Fast flying 4 years of study in the capital.
From Petersburg he went to Germany, first in düsseldorf, then in Munich, where he perfected his skills.
From abroad K. Raud returned to Tartu, opening a Studio for young people and teaches in it and also in school. In addition, he draws, writes articles, manages the creation of the Estonian national Museum. In 1910 he published a collection of poems by Johan Liiva with illustrations by K. Raud.
In 1914, the home moved to Tallinn with his brother Paul. The times were hard, there was war. Christian teaching in schools, draws, and continues to work on the creation of the Estonian national Museum.
In 1919 he was elected Chairman of the Estonian Museum society. He later became its honorary member, and honorary member of the artists Union.
In his life of K. Raud went through an infatuation with romanticism, realism, symbolism, and, finally, realism.
In 1935, the Estonian literary society has decided to produce an illustrated edition of "Kalevipoeg". The illustrations were commissioned Kristjan Raud as an artist of original talent, free from foreign influences. It is the pinnacle of his creativity.
The artist appears here as a deep thinker, researcher and poet at the same time. Drawings by K. Raud "Linda, wearing stones", "the Kidnapping of Linda", "Kalevipoeg and the girl-Hawaiian", "Kalevipoeg throwing a stone", "Kalevipoeg for plowing, Death Kalevipoeg" and others perceived as self-completed compositions.
Worked selflessly Kristjan Raud to the last days of life, even in the hospital. He died on 13 may 1943 in the harsh wartime on 78 year of life. The funeral took place in the cemetery of rahumäe, was modest in the presence of family and friends. In 1968, in Tallinn the monument to the artist in the form of monumental granite blocks with reliefs on the theme of the epic.
