Painting. Russian artists. Il'ya Repin (1844-1930)

П'уа Ephimovich Repin, a painter of historical subjects known for the power and drama of his works, is considered an outstanding realist of his generation. Born to a poor family near Kharkov Repin learned his trade from an icon painter named Bunakov. In 1864 Repin became a student at the Academy of Fine Arts at St. Petersburg. In 1871 he won an academy scholarship that enabled him to visit France and Italy, and when he returned to Russia he devoted himself to depicting episodes from Russian history. In 1894 he became professor of historical painting at the academy in St. Petersburg.
Although Repin was a good draughtsman and a skilled colourist, he was known for his subject matter. His deeply moving scenes of common people were an indictment of the Tsarist regime. His powerful Volga Boatmen, of 1873, depicting bargemen harnessed together like beasts of burden, epitomises the stark realism and social criticism. This painting became a model for Soviet Union Socialist Realist painting.

Repin's treatments of Russian subjects tend to be grim in tone, sharply drawn, and boldly composed. In his Religious Procession in the Kursk Guberniya, of 1880-83, a ceremonious procession is moving along a dusty road. Repin depicted almost all the estates of provincial Russia. Each figure is endowed with a characteristic pose, movement and gesture. In the centre of the procession the painter placed landowners, merchants, clergymen and officers, representatives of the middle and upper classes. The fat landowner's wife, who carries the miracle-performing icon is very expressive. She is full of her personal importance. Her arrogant look mirrors the self-confidence of the representatives of the properted classes. Their well-being is protected by village police officers. The procession is headed by stalwart peasants; behind them two women of the lower merchant class cautiously carry an empty icon case. A choir is also represented here. No face shows deep devotion to God. Among the crowd the figure of an archdeacon stands out for the bright, festive
clothing, but he too is plunged in his own thoughts. True faith is seen only in the images of the poor and pilgrims. The most expressive image is that of the hunchback.

With the development of realism, historical painting underwent great changes. In his large historical paintings Ivan the Terrible and His Son Ivan, November 16, 1581, of 1885, and Zaporozhian Cossacks, of 1891 Repin resurrected the spirit of historical events and recreated historical characters, their fates and passions. The latter is the painter's best-known work.

Repin also created portraits of his great contemporaries, such as Leo Tolstoy, Mikhail Glinka, and Modest Mussorgsky.
 

Literature: Book "Russian art" A.P. Minyar-Belorucheva