"Ivan the Terrible and His Son" by Ilya Repin, completed in 1885, is a powerful and emotionally charged depiction of a tragic moment in Russian history. In this haunting painting, Repin portrays the harrowing scene of Tsar Ivan the Terrible unintentionally striking and killing his own son, Ivan Ivanovich, in a fit of rage. The figures are engulfed in a dark and somber atmosphere, with Ivan the Terrible holding his mortally wounded son in his arms, his face twisted in horror and despair. The painting captures the profound anguish and regret of the tsar, as well as the pain and shock in his son's expression. Through meticulous attention to detail and a dynamic composition, Repin conveys the devastating consequences of unchecked power and the human cost of tyranny, inviting viewers to reflect on the complexities of history and the tragic outcomes of unchecked rage and violence.
Title Ivan the Terrible and His Son Ivan on 16 November 1581 (Иван Грозный и сын его Иван 16 ноября 1581 года); often referred to simply as Ivan the Terrible and His Son Ivan or Ivan the Terrible Killing His Son
ArtistIlya Yefimovich Repin (Ukrainian-born Russian Realist; member of the Peredvizhniki [Itinerants]; Chuguev, Russian Empire [now Ukraine], 5 August [O.S. 24 July] 1844 - Kuokkala, Viipuri Province, Finland [now Russia], 29 September 1930)
Year of creation1883-1885 (the date 1883 marks the start of work; the painting was completed in 1885. In his memoirs Repin recalled three principal sources of inspiration: the 1881 assassination of Tsar Alexander II by members of Narodnaya Volya, the music of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov [particularly the symphonic suite Antar], and the bullfights he had witnessed during a trip to Spain in 1883. The composition depicts the moment immediately after Tsar Ivan IV "the Terrible" had struck his eldest son and heir Tsarevich Ivan Ivanovich on the temple with the pointed metal-tipped end of his sceptre during an argument on 16 November 1581 — most likely producing an epidural hematoma — and now cradles the mortally wounded young man on a blood-red carpet in a darkened room of seventeenth-century Russian furnishings. The historical incident was best known to Repin through the account in Nikolay Karamzin's History of the Russian State. Repin used his friend the Peredvizhniki painter Grigoriy Myasoyedov as the model for Ivan and the writer Vsevolod Garshin — who would himself commit suicide in 1888 — for the Tsarevich; Ivan wears an austere black coat while the Tsarevich is in a pink satin dressing gown and teal-green boots. When publicly exhibited in 1885 the painting was banned by Emperor Alexander III in April of that year — the first painting to be censored in Russia — though the ban was lifted in July; Tretyakov, who had already purchased it, was at first unable to display it. The work is now also commonly known as Ivan the Terrible Killing His Son)
Technique/MediumOil on canvas
Original dimensions199.5 x 254 cm (78.5 x 100 inches)
Collection/MuseumState Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow (purchased directly from the artist by Pavel Tretyakov in 1885 for his gallery; on permanent display, though the painting has twice been attacked by visitors — in 1913 by Abram Balashov, who stabbed it three times with a dagger crying "Blood! Why the blood? Down with blood!" — the canvas was restored by Repin himself — and again on 25 May 2018 by Igor Podporin, who damaged the central panel with a metal pole, requiring a four-year restoration completed in 2022)
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Black floating frame is a popular add-on to any canvas during the purchase. The frame is build using our proprietary profile radial pine, and coated with black graphite that gives it a gallery quality, luxurious matte finish.
I simply love the portrait of the three black cats! - flawless print, elegant frame and quick shipping with sufficient packaging.
I will be coming back for more!
Thank you! <3
Extremely clear and detailed. Photo is the print with museum grade glass.
You could look at it a hundred times and still notice a different detail each time.
We absolutely love this print! We framed it and displayed it in our sacred space area. Great addition to our decor and a powerful piece of art. Many thanks.
Okay, let me start by saying this is my favorite painting of all time. I love skulls. I am beyond thrilled to own this piece and show it off to all who enter! I cannot believe this was painted in 1533.. It stirs me. 10/10 piece. Easy.
I am attaching two photos of the upper left corner where the crucifix lies hidden in plain sight. I am disappointed that the wrap of the canvas wasn't very tight on this one. Because of the loose wrapping.. you can clearly see that the crucifix is mirrored from the printing job and it kind of ruins that corner of the piece because it is a detail you aren't suppose to notice right away. Unfortunately it sticks out in plain view. I plan to take black paint and just tape off the edge and fill the outer edge so the crucifix has a proper corner to inhabit. Although, I am hesitant to try and alter something so expensive.. Not sure what to do.
Solid as usual. Solid as always. The Last Days of Pompeii is dramatic and moody; just what I wanted. Print quality is sharp, colors are faithful. The artwork is theatrical, and work well on canvas. I'm a history nut and have had a fascination with Pompeii since my teens, so this one had to join my collection. Happy with it.
We made our first purchase from Inspiraggio, The Beheading of St John the Baptist | Caravaggio | 1608.
We absolutely love it. The quality and framing are amazing. It changes the whole room.
Thanks!!!
I ordered two paintings from Inspiraggio, and both are of incredible quality and remarkably faithful to the originals. The canvas and frame both feel sturdy, and the level of detail is truly impressive. I’m delighted with my purchases and would definitely order from them again in the future
Very pretty. I knew I had to have 'Vanity' when I saw it. 'The Great Red Dragon...' is... great as well. Both quality prints, really like how they look in my apartment.
It's a masterpiece! It really fits the horror theme of my office room. It scares my wife but that what I was going for. I will definitely order more photos, not just for me but as gifts as well. I already have "the laughing fool" picture on the way. Thank you guys
Very poorly packaged—thin cardboard; I don't know how it survived shipping. The stretcher frame is too weak, leaving the canvas sagging and barely taut; at least one extra crossbar needs to be added to get the tension up to an acceptable standard. Check pictures, description diameters for package was overestimated few cm.