Ivan the Terrible and His Son Ivan
| Ivan the Terrible and His Son Ivan on November 16, 1581 | |
|---|---|
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| Artist | Ilya Repin |
| Year | 1885 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Subject | Ivan the Terrible, Ivan Ivanovich |
| Dimensions | 199.5 cm × 254 cm (78.5 in × 100 in) |
| Location | Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow |
Ivan the Terrible and His Son Ivan on November 16, 1581 is a painting by Russian realist Ilya Repin. The picture portrays a grief-stricken Ivan the Terrible cradling his son Ivan Ivanovich after an attack; Ivan himself is believed to have dealt the fatal blow to his son. It is on display in the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow.[1] The work has been called one of Russia's most famous paintings and one of its most controversial.[2][3] Repin is said to have been inspired by the 1881 assassination of Tsar Alexander II. In 1885, upon completion of the oil on canvas work, Repin sold it to Pavel Tretyakov, for display in his gallery.[3]
Controversy
Repin's piece was temporarily removed from public display while at the Tretyakov Gallery when word spread that Tsar Alexander III found it offensive. The incident between Ivan and his son is controversial with some Russian nationalists disputing the event. In 2013 an open letter was sent to the Russian culture ministry by Orthodox Christian activists. The letter alleged that the painting was offensive to Russians as it presented an untrue, distorted view of history.[3]
The painting has been attacked twice, most recently on 25 May 2018 when an inebriated visitor to the gallery smashed the security glass around the painting because he believed it to be historically inaccurate. He used one of the metal security poles used to hold the rope to keep visitors at a distance.[1] The canvas was torn in three places though fortuitously not near the faces and hands of those portrayed.[2] The damage was reported as being "serious" with a special commission of art experts planning restoration which is expected to take several years.[3] The painting was previously attacked in 1913, being slashed three times with a knife. At the time Repin was able to restore the work.[1] Olga Temerina, the deputy head of the Grabar Art Conservation Centre, says that they have Repin's notes from the first attack which may help with restoration work.[3]
References
- ^ a b c "'Ivan the Terrible' Painting Damaged in Russia in Vodka-Fueled Attack". The New York Times. 27 May 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
- ^ a b Kishkovsky, Sophia (28 May 2018). "Famous Russian painting of Ivan the Terrible vandalised in Moscow". The Art Newspaper. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
- ^ a b c d e Bodner, Matthew (27 May 2018). "Ivan the Terrible painting 'seriously damaged' in pole attack". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 May 2018.