Artist Repin paintings. Ilya Efimovich Repin - biography and paintings Again in the Northern capital
I. E. Repin born in the city of Chuguev, located on the territory of the Kharkov province, in 1844. And then no one could even imagine that this ordinary boy from a poor family would become a great Russian artist. His mother was the first to notice his abilities when he helped her paint eggs in preparation for Easter. No matter how happy the mother was about such talent, she did not have money for its development.
Ilya began attending classes at a local school, where they studied topography, and after the closure of which he entered the icon painter N. Bunakov, in his workshop. Having acquired the necessary drawing skills in the workshop, fifteen-year-old Repin became a frequent participant in the painting of numerous churches in villages. This went on for four years, after which, with the accumulated hundred rubles, the future artist went to, where he planned to enter the Academy of Arts.
Having failed the entrance exams, he became a student at the preparatory art school at the Society for the Encouragement of the Arts. Among his first teachers at school was, who for a long time remained Repin’s faithful mentor. The next year, Ilya Efimovich was accepted into the Academy, where he began to write academic works, and at the same time wrote several works of his own free will.
The matured Repin graduated from the Academy in 1871, already an established artist in all respects. His graduation work, for which he received a Gold Medal, was a painting called by the artist “The Resurrection of Jairus’s Daughter.” This work was recognized as the best for the entire time that the Academy of Arts existed. While still a young man, Repin began to pay attention to portraits; in 1869 he painted a portrait of the young V. A. Shevtsova, who three years later became his wife.
But the great artist became widely known in 1871, after painting the group portrait “Slavic Composers”. Among the 22 figures depicted in the painting are composers from Russia, Poland and the Czech Republic. In 1873, during a trip to Russia, the artist became acquainted with the French art of impressionism, which he was not delighted with. Three years later, having returned to Russia again, he immediately went to his native Chuguev, and in the fall of 1877 he already became a resident of Moscow.
During this time, he met the Mamontov family, spending time communicating with other young talents in their workshop. Then work began on the famous painting, which was completed in 1891. Many more works that are quite well known today were written, among them numerous portraits of prominent personalities: the chemist Mendeleev, M.I. Glinka, the daughter of his friend Tretyakov A.P. Botkina and many others. There are many works depicting L.N. Tolstoy.
The year 1887 became a turning point for I.E. Repin. He divorced his wife, accusing him of bureaucracy, left the ranks of the Association, which organized traveling exhibitions of artists, and the artist’s health had significantly deteriorated.
From 1894 to 1907 he held the position of head of a workshop at the Art Academy, and in 1901 he received a large order from the government. After attending multiple council meetings, after just a couple of years, he presents the finished canvas. This work, with a total area of 35 square meters, was the last of the large works.
Repin married for the second time in 1899, choosing N.B. Nordman-Severova as his companion, with whom they moved to the town of Kuokkala and lived there for three decades. In 1918, due to the war with the White Finns, he lost the opportunity to visit Russia, but in 1926 he received a government invitation, which he refused for health reasons. In September 1930, on the 29th, the artist Ilya Efimovich Repin passed away.
Ilya Efimovich Repin - Russian artist born July 24, 1844 in the city of Chuguev. He started in the workshop of the icon painter Bunakov. Repin's talent manifested itself quite early and soon he was already painting churches. With the money received from these works, he went to St. Petersburg to begin teaching painting professionally. Here he enters the art school named after R.K. Zhukovsky and.
Repin was remembered by the teachers there for his constant self-criticism. It seemed to the artist that everything was going well for him and he worked harder than others on his paintings, which led to unprecedented results. Soon none of his fellow students could compare with him in the art of using a brush.
Ilya Repin was very sensitive to what was happening in society - this was often reflected in his paintings. The artist communicated with young people who were extremely democratic and were carried away by the ideas of Chernyshevsky. Repin was a friend of another great artist Kramskoy. Together they worked and were engaged in social activities. Together they joined traveling exhibitions when they left the Academy of Arts for differences of opinion.
Barge haulers on the Volga, Cossacks composing a letter to the Turkish Sultan, Sadko - all these works were written by the great artist. He was often reproached for his inconstancy. Today he paints a picture based on biblical scenes, tomorrow some kind of psychological sketch or portrait. Everything in his work is inconsistent, subject only to the sudden impulse of Ilya Efimovich. The creator himself said that he loves diversity.
The most fruitful period of his life began in the 80s. During this period, he painted the painting “Religious Procession in the Kursk Province,” which Tretyakov immediately bought for his gallery for a lot of money. Repin was attracted by the theme of revolutionary-minded Russia. One of the most significant paintings on this topic is “We Didn’t Expect.” This depicts a revolutionary who has finally returned home from exile. This picture has a very complex and wide range of feelings. Each character is going through something different. At traveling exhibitions, it was almost impossible to approach this painting, as people crowded around. Many praised the artist for not stopping at “Barge Haulers,” but moving on.
Repin reached the highest peak in his work with the creation of the painting “Ivan the Terrible and His Son Ivan.” In this picture, Tsar Ivan the Terrible suddenly realizes what a terrible act he committed by killing his son. “The Cossacks write a letter to the Turkish Sultan” is not at all a fictional plot for the film. He heard this story from a Ukrainian historian, who told him about how boldly and daringly the Cossacks responded to the Turkish Sultan, who demanded their submission.
In 1894, Ilya Repin took the position of professor at the Academy of Arts. It was a very difficult period in his life. His right hand stopped working and he had to learn to write with his left. In 1907, Repin left the Academy and moved to live at a dacha in Penate, Finland, with his wife Natalya Nordman. The great painter died in 1930.
Barge haulers going ford
Barge Haulers on the Volga
Ivan the Terrible and his son Ivan
Procession of the Cross in Kursk Province
Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka
In the sun
Poor fisherman girl
Nicholas of Myra saves three innocent prisoners from the death penalty
Autumn bouquet. Portrait of Vera Ilyinichna Repina
Refusal to confess before execution
Portrait of the composer Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky
Portrait of Nadya Repina, the artist's daughter
Portrait of the writer Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy
According to a brief biography of Repin by Ilya Efimovich, the future artist was born in 1844 in Chuguevo (Kharkov province). The artist’s father was a “ticket soldier”; his mother, Tatyana Stepanovna, came from a good family and was well educated. It is interesting that until the end of his life Repin tried to maintain connections with his “small Motherland,” and Ukrainian motifs often appeared in his works.
Repin discovered a passion for painting early, and in 1855 he was sent to a typography school, but in 1857 the school was closed, and Repin went as a student to an icon-painting workshop. He quickly became the best and at the age of 16 he began working independently, joining an artel that was engaged in the construction and restoration of churches. In 1863, Repin decided to go to St. Petersburg and enter the Academy of Arts. I didn’t enroll immediately, but after a course at an evening art school. But from 1863 he became a student of the Academy (until 1871), and not the last student. I. Kramskoy and V. Polenov brought him closer to them. Over the course of 8 years, he managed to receive several awards, including a large gold medal from the Academy.
First big success
In 1870, Repin began work on his first large painting, “Barge Haulers on the Volga.” This work created a sensation in the international art community.
Trip abroad and life in Moscow
From 1873 to 1876, Repin lived abroad, traveled all over Spain, Italy and settled in France, in Paris, where he met local impressionists, especially falling in love with Manet. It was in Paris that he painted the painting “Sadko,” for which he received the title of academician and because of which he received a barrage of criticism.
From 1877 to 1882, the artist lived in Moscow and was an active member of the Association of Itinerants. It was at this time that he painted the painting “Princess Sophia” and began working with his most outstanding student V. Serov. At the same time, the artist painted a portrait of M. Mussorgsky, who died literally a few days later. This work delighted critics.
Life in St. Petersburg
From 1883 to 1900 the artist lived in St. Petersburg. Here he writes his most outstanding works: “Ivan the Terrible and his son Ivan”, “They didn’t expect”, “Cossacks...”, “Anniversary meeting of the State Council” (commissioned by Alexander III). For some time, having fallen under the influence of A. Benois and S. Dyagelev, Repin became a member of the “World of Art”. Since 1894 he has been teaching at the Academy of Arts. With his students he illustrates many works, for example, N. Leskova, N. Nekrasov.
Family
The artist's first wife was his friend's sister Vera Shevtsova. The marriage was not successful, and after 15 years the couple divorced, “dividing” the children: the father took the older ones, and the younger ones remained with the mother. Repin loved children very much and often painted family portraits.
The artist’s second wife was Natalya Nordman, with whom he began to live in Penate (Kuokkala), Finland. The marriage was successful, although Nordman was known as an “eccentric.” K. Chukovsky spoke especially unflatteringly about her (the writer was a great friend of the artist and even advised him not to move to the USSR in 1925).
Widowed in 1914, Repin never remarried.
The artist died in 1930 in Penaty. He was buried there. Until the end of his life, he maintained clarity of mind and tried to work.
Other biography options
- It is interesting that for the painting “Princess Sophia” the artist’s wife Vera sewed a dress with her own hands, focusing on the outfits brought from the Armory.
- The artist took on the task of painting a portrait of I. Turgenev twice (at the request of a friend, gallerist P. Tretyakov) and was unsuccessful both times. Until the end of his life, he believed that the portrait of a writer was his worst work.
- The artist had a strong friendship with the writer L. Tolstoy. He painted about 10 portraits and paintings with his participation. The most famous is “Leo Tolstoy on the Field”.
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Ilya Repin, the future outstanding Russian painter, was born on August 5, 1844 in the small town of Chuguev, Kharkov region, into the family of a military settler. At the age of 13, he began to study painting in his hometown with the icon painter I. M. Bunakov. Ilya draws very, very well, the whole district orders his work. What should a young talented artist do for further development? Of course, go to St. Petersburg and enter the Academy of Arts. Ilya Repin moves to the city on the Neva and studies at the Drawing School on Birzhe, where he meets I. N. Kramskoy, who becomes his mentor. In 1863, he fulfilled his cherished desire and entered the Academy of Arts, where from the very beginning of his studies he made serious progress. The practical experience acquired in Chuguev has an impact. Among the teachers was R.K. Zhukovsky. In 1869 he received his first serious award - the Small Gold Medal, for the painting “Job and His Friends”.
Repin Ilya Efimovich, self-portrait 1878
In 1870, he went on a trip along the Volga River, made sketches and sketches, on the basis of which he created the painting “Barge Haulers on the Volga”, commissioned by Grand Duke V. Alexandrovich. The film is a colossal success, impressing with its expressiveness, character development and amazing persuasiveness. Work on the painting lasted three years.
The artist’s next award is a large gold medal for the painting “The Resurrection of Jairus’s Daughter.” In addition to the medal, Repin receives the right to six years of study abroad, in Italy and France. This stage is the final stage in his artistic education. The return to Russia, first to his hometown, and a year later to Moscow, took place in 1876.
In 1878, Repin heard from a Ukrainian historian a story about how the Turkish Sultan wrote to the Zaporozhye Cossacks demanding submission and recognition of his power. The Cossacks, in their response, trolled the Sultan perfectly. Repin really liked this story, a pencil sketch was immediately made, but the work on the painting itself lasted for 10 years.
Cossacks write a letter to the Turkish Sultan
In 1882, the artist moved to St. Petersburg, where he became an active member of the Association of Traveling Art Exhibitions and, in fact, was the leader of the realistic school of painting. But in 1887 he left the partnership, because he considered it wrong that the Wanderers were fixated on themselves and did not want to see new participants in their ranks. In the same year he divorced his wife V.A. Shevtsova. This marriage gave him 4 children (a son and three daughters).
Next begins the pedagogical stage of life. In 1893 Repin became a full member of the Academy of Arts. In 1894-1907 he was the professor-head of the workshop, and in 1898-1899. - Rector of the Academy.
In 1899, Ilya Efimovich married N.B. Nordman for the second time, bought a plot of land in the village of Kuokkala (Finland), built an estate and called it “Penates”. In this estate he spends his last 30 years of his life.
Repin's political views are interesting. He had a negative attitude towards the tsarist regime, but the Soviet regime did not please him either. He did not want to return to the Soviet Union. Ilya Efimovich died on September 29, 1930 in his estate. All his life he did what he loved - drawing. Perhaps this is happiness.
Ilya Efimovich Repin(1844-1930) - Russian artist, painter, master of portraits, historical and everyday scenes. Memoirist, author of a number of essays that made up the book of memoirs “Distant Close”. Teacher, was a professor - head of the workshop (1894-1907) and rector (1898-1899) of the Academy of Arts, at the same time teaching at Tenisheva’s school-workshop; among his students were B. M. Kustodiev, I. E. Grabar, I. S. Kulikov, F. A. Malyavin, A. P. Ostroumova-Lebedeva, and also gave private lessons to V. A. Serov.
In 1863 he entered the Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg. At the Drawing School at the Exchange, Repin met I. N. Kramskoy, who became his mentor. He also studied with R.K. Zhukovsky. He studied successfully, and in 1869 he was awarded a small gold medal for the painting “Job and His Friends.”
Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg
"Job and His Friends" 1869
During his trip along the Volga in 1870, he wrote a number of studies and sketches; Based on some of them, he painted the painting “Barge Haulers on the Volga” for Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich, completed in 1873. This painting, depicting the hard work of barge haulers pulling a barge, made a strong impression on the public and critics.
"Barge Haulers on the Volga" 1873
In 1872, for his programmatic work “The Resurrection of Jairus’s Daughter” he received a Grand Gold Medal and the right to 6 years of study in Italy and France, where he completed his art education.
"Resurrection of Jairus' Daughter"
Since 1873, Repin has been traveling abroad as a pensioner of the Academy, where the luminaries of ancient painting made a negative impression on him. In Paris he writes “The Parisian Cafe” and the fabulous “Sadko”
"Parisian cafe"
Sadko is a Russian epic hero. preserving mythological features. According to the hypothesis of supporters of the historical school, the image of SADKO goes back to the chronicle Novgorod merchant Sotko Sytinich.
Returns to Russia in the summer of 1876. In the autumn of the same year, the artist returned to his native Chuguev, and a year later he moved from there to Moscow. In 1878, while visiting Abramtsevo, Repin heard a story from a Ukrainian historian about how the Turkish Sultan wrote to the Zaporozhye Cossacks and demanded their submission. The Cossacks' response was bold, impudent, and full of mockery of the Sultan. Repin was delighted with this message and immediately made a pencil sketch. After that, he constantly returned to this topic, working on the painting for more than ten years. It was completed only in 1891.
“The Cossacks write a letter to the Turkish Sultan”
In 1882 he moved to St. Petersburg, where he became an active member of the Association of Traveling Art Exhibitions, which he joined in 1874, becoming one of the leaders of the realistic school of painting. His paintings appear at the exhibitions of the partnership: “Ruler Sofya Alekseevna in the Monastery” (1879), “Religious Procession in the Kursk Province” (1883), “They Didn’t Expect” (1884), “Ivan the Terrible and His Son Ivan” (1885).
“Ruler Sofya Alekseevna in the monastery” (1879)
“Religious procession in the Kursk province” (1883)
"We Didn't Expect" (1884)
"Ivan the Terrible and his son Ivan" (1885)
In 1887 Repin divorced his wife. That same year he left the Association of Art Traveling Exhibitions. He didn’t like that the Peredvizhniki closed in on themselves and did not accept new members, especially young ones.
During the same period, the following paintings were created: “Duel”, “Poprishchin” (1882), portraits of Franz Liszt and Mikhail Glinka (1887), as well as portraits of P. A. Strepetova, N. I. Pirogov, P. M. Tretyakov, I N. Kramskoy, I. S. Turgenev, V. M. Garshin, V. V. Samoilov, M. S. Shchepkin, Baroness Ikskul and many others.
“Portrait of Leo Tolstoy”
"Afanasy Fet"
“Portrait of D. I. Mendeleev”
"Dragonfly. Portrait of Vera Repina, the artist’s daughter"
“Portrait of the composer Anton Grigorievich Rubinstein”
In 1901, the artist received a government order: to paint a ceremonial meeting of the State Council on the day of the centenary. The grandiose multi-figure canvas (35 sq. m.) “The ceremonial meeting of the State Council on May 7, 1901” (1901-1903, State Russian Museum), performed by B. M. Kustodiev and I. S. Kulikov, was written over the course of two years . The ceremonial portrait depicts more than eighty people - dignitaries of the State Council, led by the Tsar and members of the reigning house. Repin wrote fifty sketches and portraits for the painting.
Due to overwork, Repin began to hurt, and then his right hand stopped working, but he learned to write with his left hand.
Ceremonial meeting of the State Council on May 7, 1901" 
In 1899 Repin married Natalya Nordman and moved to live with her at the Penaty estate in the village of Kuokkala in Finland. There he spent the last thirty years of his life. After the October Revolution, the village of Kuokkala found itself abroad, as part of independent Finland.
The artist died on September 29, 1930 in Kuokkala, where he was buried in his favorite garden next to his house.
Political Views
Repin He had a negative attitude towards Nicholas II, called him a “vile barbarian”, “a high-minded man”, and dreamed “that this “abomination” would collapse.” However, after the revolution, in 1918, he painted the painting “Cattle of Imperialism”, a kind of continuation of the theme of barge haulers, where they look dirty, stupid and ugly. Repin himself said about this picture: “Cattle” is a deeply depraved creature: constantly in contact with the police, he learns their ability to be predatory like a wolf, toady, but quickly come to reprisals against their masters if they weaken...” Attempts of the Soviet government to return Repin failed in the USSR, in private letters he claimed that while the Bolsheviks were in power, he did not want to have anything in common with Russia. In recent years, Repin has created a number of paintings on religious themes.
