Ilya Repin

Ilya Repin, born on July 24, 1844 in Chuhuiv, was a painter and essayist from the Russian Empire. He was educated at the Imperial Academy of Arts and was known for his work in history painting, portrait, and genre painting. Repin's notable works include 'Reply of the Zaporozhian Cossacks', 'Barge Haulers on the Volga', and 'Religious Procession in Kursk Province'. In addition to being a painter, Repin was also an essayist. He passed away on September 29, 1930 in Repino, Saint Petersburg.

Ilya Efimovich Repin (1844-1930) - the greatest Russian artist, professor, and then academician of the Russian Academy of Arts, the creator of Russian realism in painting, a teacher who was a mentor for such artists as B. Kustodiev, I. Grabar, and Kulikov, V. Serov. Repin's biography is unique. He lived a long and eventful life.

Origin and education

According to a brief biography of Ilya Efimovich Repin, the future artist was born in 1844 in Chuguev (Kharkov province). The artist's father was a "ticket soldier", his mother, Tatyana Stepanovna, came from a good family and was well educated. Interestingly, until the end of his life Repin tried to keep in touch with his "small motherland", and Ukrainian motifs often appeared in his works.

Passion for painting showed up in Repin early, and in 1855 he was sent to the school of typographers, but in 1857 the school was closed, and Repin went as a student to the icon-painting workshop. He quickly became the best and at the age of 16 he began to work independently, joining the artel, which was engaged in the construction and restoration of churches. In 1863, Repin decided to go to St. Petersburg and enter the Academy of Arts. He did not enter immediately, but after a course of study at an evening art school. But from 1863 he became a student of the Academy (until 1871), and he was not the last student. I. Kramskoy and V. Polenov brought him closer to him. For 8 years, he managed to receive several awards, including the big gold medal of 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 a flurry of criticism fell upon him.

From 1877 to 1882 the artist lived in Moscow and was an active member of the Association of the Wanderers. It was at this time that he painted the painting "Princess Sophia" and began work with his most outstanding student V. Serov. At the same time, the artist painted a portrait of M. Mussorgsky, who died just a few days later. This work has been admired by critics.

Life in St. Petersburg

From 1883 to 1900 the artist lives in St. Petersburg. Here he writes his most outstanding works: "Ivan the Terrible and his son Ivan", "They did not wait", "Cossacks ...", "Jubilee meeting of the State Council" (commissioned by Alexander III). For some time, having fallen under the influence of A. Benois and S. Diaghilev, 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, by N. Leskov, N. Nekrasov.

Family

The first wife of the artist was the sister of his friend Vera Shevtsova. The marriage was not successful, and after 15 years the couple divorced, “dividing” the children: the father took the elders, and the younger ones stayed with their mother. Repin was very fond of children, often painted family portraits.

The second wife of the artist was Natalya Nordman, with whom he began to live in Penaty (Kuokkala), in Finland. The marriage was successful, although Nordman was known as an "eccentric". K. Chukovsky was especially unflattering about her (the writer was a great friend of the artist and even advised him not to move to the USSR in 1925).

Having been widowed in 1914, Repin never remarried.

The artist died in 1930 in Penates. Buried there. Until the end of his life, he maintained clarity of mind and tried to work.

Ilya Efimovich Repin (1844-1930) - the greatest Russian artist, professor, and then academician of the Russian Academy of Arts, the creator of Russian realism in painting, a teacher who was a mentor for such artists as B. Kustodiev, I. Grabar, and Kulikov, V. Serov. Repin's biography is unique. He lived a long and eventful life.

Origin and education

According to a brief biography of Ilya Efimovich Repin, the future artist was born in 1844 in Chuguev (Kharkov province). The artist's father was a "ticket soldier", his mother, Tatyana Stepanovna, came from a good family and was well educated. Interestingly, until the end of his life Repin tried to keep in touch with his "small motherland", and Ukrainian motifs often appeared in his works.

Passion for painting showed up in Repin early, and in 1855 he was sent to the school of typographers, but in 1857 the school was closed, and Repin went as a student to the icon-painting workshop. He quickly became the best and at the age of 16 he began to work independently, joining the artel, which was engaged in the construction and restoration of churches. In 1863, Repin decided to go to St. Petersburg and enter the Academy of Arts. He did not enter immediately, but after a course of study at an evening art school. But from 1863 he became a student of the Academy (until 1871), and he was not the last student. I. Kramskoy and V. Polenov brought him closer to him. For 8 years, he managed to receive several awards, including the big gold medal of 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 a flurry of criticism fell upon him.

From 1877 to 1882 the artist lived in Moscow and was an active member of the Association of the Wanderers. It was at this time that he painted the painting "Princess Sophia" and began work with his most outstanding student V. Serov. At the same time, the artist painted a portrait of M. Mussorgsky, who died just a few days later. This work has been admired by critics.

Life in St. Petersburg

From 1883 to 1900 the artist lives in St. Petersburg. Here he writes his most outstanding works: "Ivan the Terrible and his son Ivan", "They did not wait", "Cossacks ...", "Jubilee meeting of the State Council" (commissioned by Alexander III). For some time, having fallen under the influence of A. Benois and S. Diaghilev, 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, by N. Leskov, N. Nekrasov.

Family

The first wife of the artist was the sister of his friend Vera Shevtsova. The marriage was not successful, and after 15 years the couple divorced, “dividing” the children: the father took the elders, and the younger ones stayed with their mother. Repin was very fond of children, often painted family portraits.

The second wife of the artist was Natalya Nordman, with whom he began to live in Penaty (Kuokkala), in Finland. The marriage was successful, although Nordman was known as an "eccentric". K. Chukovsky was especially unflattering about her (the writer was a great friend of the artist and even advised him not to move to the USSR in 1925).

Having been widowed in 1914, Repin never remarried.

The artist died in 1930 in Penates. Buried there. Until the end of his life, he maintained clarity of mind and tried to work.