1844 - 1930

Ilya Repin is the most prominent painter in the XVIII century Russian realism. He had a gift of a strong talent. The Artist studied at the Petersburg Academy of Arts from 1864 to 1871. On a scholarship from the Academy, Repin lived and worked in Paris, becoming a member of the Academy. He spent one year living in Moscow but moved to St Petersburg in 1882.

1878-1882 Repin was a member of S.Mammontov's Abramtsevo Art Circle and a member of the Itinerants. He was a professor of art at the Academy and became its director in 1898-1899. Ilya Repin also taught at the Princess M. Tenisheva studio-school.

Repin produced several lithographs, a huge number of drawings, landscapes, portraits, and historical paintings. 
In 1900 Repin moved to his estate in the vicinity of Petersburg.
By 1901 He finished The Formal Session of the State Council of May7,1901,on the day of the Centenary of its Establishment. It was a grandiose design, the final canvas measures 400 x 877 cm! (157 x 345 inches) it was a government commission, so, in 1905 the painting was acquired from the artist. Now it's placed in the State Russian Museum, St. Petersburg.

Painting explanation:
The coronation of Alexander III happened in 1883. There was a release of people who had been banished for political offences. After 21 years of hard labor Nikolay Chernyshevsky was permitted to return from Siberia and settle in Astrakhan. The main emotional tension of the painting lies in family's gazes.

Painting explanation:
Peter and his half-brother Ivan became co-rules after their elder brother, Fiodor's death, in 1682. Ivan's sister Sophia acted as regent, but as Peter grew up, she attempted to keep him from power. Among her adherence were the Streltsy, Russia's first "professional soldiers". After a struggle, Peter imprisoned Sophia and executed her partners. When Peter was abroad the Streltsy mutinied. Tsar returned to Russia and executed them. The bodies of the dead were displayed on gibbets for months to intimidate people.

  Here the Artist depicted a scene from one of the Russian fairytales, which was called "Sadko."

Burlaki on Volga