The Wedding of Tsar St Nikolai Aleksandrovich (Ilya Repin, 1894)
The theme today is “Tsars in Russian history”. This painting depicts the wedding of the last tsar in 1894.
Friday, 29 February 2008
Ilya Repin. The Wedding of Tsar St Nikolai Aleksandrovich. 1894
A Contemporary Russian-American Wedding
When one compensates for differences in scale (that is, a modest ordinary service in comparison to a lush regal setting), there is not much difference in the two weddings. That is, in Russian Orthodoxy, we have not changed, we have not suffered a “Vatican II” as the Catholics did. Of course, there are unrepresentative intellectuals who wish to “improve” things, but, they are a minority, and the faithful, by and large, ignore them. I have every confidence that the ’60s true believers amongst us shall be routed soon, and we can get back to the serious business of preserving our faith complete and unchanged. Unfortunately, these unrepresentative voices predominate on the Internet, although there are shining exemplars of traditional faith here on the web such as Fr John Whiteford, Fr Jason (I am SORRY, I am writing from memory, and I forgot his last name! First sign of Alzheimer’s?), and the great monks from Vashon Island (kudos, Fr Tryphon!). Do ignore such as Frederica Matthewes-Greene and Joseph Honeycutt, they are peddling Protestantism with an Orthodox veneer, sadly.I thank the inimitable Sasha Ressetar for the photo, he is in the back holding a candle (as he should! my praises to a brave man who keeps the faith without diminution).
Ilya Repin. Tsar Ivan Grozny After Killing His Son on 15 November 1581. 1873
Tsar Ivan Grozny After Killing His Son on 15 November 1581 (Ilya Repin, 1873)
This is one of the most famous paintings by Mr Repin, and rightfully so. The portrayal of the horror of the tsar at what he has done is depicted ruthlessly and without pretense. One of the great paintings of the world, I say. Raw emotion… unflinchingly put down for the ages.
Ilya Repin. The Reception of the Freeholding Elders with Tsar Aleksandr Aleksandrovich in the Courtyard of the Petrovsky Palace in Moscow. 1886
The Reception of the Freeholding Elders with Tsar Aleksandr Aleksandrovich in the Courtyard of the Petrovsky Palace in Moscow (Ilya Repin, 1886)One of the best depictions of autocracy I have ever seen. The strength, determination, and firmness of Tsar Aleksandr Aleksandrovich is evident, and one can see that he was a good and well-loved ruler. One of the great men of history, I say. If I were to choose between a weak-kneed intellectual awash in books and “ideas” or Tsar Aleksandr Aleksandrovich, I would choose the latter. His rule saw great economic development and a flowering of the arts, what more does one need? “Freedom”? That is for juvenile pseudo-intellectuals…
Ivan Kuznetsov. The Installation of Tsar Mikhail Romanov. 1996
The Installation of Tsar Mikhail Romanov (Ivan Kuznetsov, 1996)
What better “contrast” piece than one illustrating the installation of the first Romanov tsar in 1613? Interestingly enough, Tsar Mikhail Romanov was installed at the Ipatievsky Monastir (Ipatiev Monastery) in Kostroma, whilst Tsar St Nikolai Aleksandrovich and his family and retainers were murdered at the Ipatievsky Dom (Ipatiev House) in Yekaterinburg. Note the deliberately archaic lettering around the border, done in the style of old Russian icons.
Thursday, 28 February 2008
Ilya Repin. A Portrait of Yuri Repin, the Son of the Artist. 1882
A Portrait of Yuri Repin, the Son of the Artist (Ilya Repin, 1882)
The theme for today of the art of Ilya Repin is “boys”. This is the portrait of Mr Repin’s only son, who died in early childhood. The early death of his only son and the death of his first wife, Vera, scarred the artist, lending a note of pathos and tragedy to his life.
Nikolai Bogdanov-Belsky. Village Kids. 1936
Village Kids (Nikolai Bogdanov-Belsky, 1936)
The “compare and contrast” is from the younger Peredvizhniki artist Bogdanov-Belsky. He made a cottage industry of painting peasant children, so, his work was a “natural” as a “contrast” to the Repin.
Wednesday, 27 February 2008
unidentified artist. Cossack Rough Riders. no date (1900s?)
Cossack Rough Riders (unidentified artist, no date (1900s?))
My cossack posts have proven to be very popular. A friend of mine, Sasha Ressetar, sent me this and the two following illustrations, so, I just had to share them with you all. Sasha is a talented balalaika player from Pennsylvania. Thank you, Sasha!
This illustration, by its title, appeared in an American publication at the turn of the 20th century. The name of the artist is not completely legible, I am sorry for that (it may be “S. Bilotte”, but, it is not completely clear). The painting appears to depict a scene from the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905; it appears too early for World War I.
