European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 17, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                R us s t a this photograph of Llya Repin was taken shortly before his death in 1930. By Susan Sobin most Tours to St. Petersburg and Moscow stroll through historic Sites Sample traditional cuisine and glance at museum Memorabilia. But often these trips Only whet the appetite and leave tourists wondering How russians really looked lived and thought. Fortunately visitors wanting to examine Russia s past have . More than 60 canvases by the National artist Llya Repin 184 -1930 hang in the russian x museum in St. Petersburg and the Tretyakov Art gallery in Moscow. Everyday life political and social events poverty and wealth living and historical people inspired Repin s work. Today his paintings give a Frank assessment of his Era s social problems its celebrated personalities and Russia s history. The russian museum has some of Repin s Best known works. One of them Barge men on the Volga shocked and fascinated the Public in the Early 1870s with its candid portrayal of a typical River scene men towing a Barge with their harnessed bodies. They Are tramps outcasts and wanderers. A Young boy whose torn shirt reveals a Cross pulls at the strap across his Chest to relieve soreness. His eyes sullenly gaze into the distance. Next to him an exhausted figure Shields his face from the Sun with his Arm on the other Side an old Man leans on the boy. Two bearded Middle aged herculean figures Lead their bodies leaning Forward against the weight of the Barge. Behind a Gawky Man smokes a pipe a questioning look on his face. With this portrait Repin became the first russian artist to make the lower Depths of humanity respectable and their conditions Worth attention say Art historians fan and Stephen Parker in their Book Russia on Canvas Llya Repin. Repin was in his 20s then a student at the St. Petersburg Art Academy. He had happened on the Boatmen during a summer trip. Repin s unusual subject and his sensitive portrayal of it brought him instant acclaim. A few years later Repin chanced across a letter sent in 1676 by cossacks to a turkish Sultan who threatened to exterminate them if they did not surrender their territory. Struck by the caustic humor crude language and Defiance of people who would risk death for Liberty Repin painted the cossacks composing their taunting reply. He painted Over 40 studies for the painting Zaporozhye cossacks writing a reply to the turkish Sultan 1880-1891.which won prizes in Munich and Berlin. Repin s Fame led to a commission he did not want at first he was asked to paint Russia s political governors. Repin abhorred Monarch Al officials but accepted on the condition that he be allowed to visit their meetings and that the governors pose for him in their customary places in the Council chamber. His work the state Council in session on May 7, 1901, painted 1901-3captures the most characteristic traits and poses of about 70 russian leaders. Portraits at the russian museum include Russia s last Czar Nicholas ii author Leo Tolstoy and composer Nikolai Rimsky Korsakov. If the museum is not included on your tour to St. Petersburg you la find it at Binzhe Vernaya St. 4/2 Mikhailovsky Palace two blocks North of the Boulevard Nevsky Prospect Between the Winter stadium and the Maly opera  s Tretyakov gallery has a larger collection of Repin canvases. The viewer cannot miss Repin s themes of injustice and tragedy. Refusal of confession before execution 1879-1885 depicts a discussion Between a Young Resolute revolutionary and a priest in a prison cell. The condemned Man huddles in the cold thrusting his hands into the sleeves of his worn coat. The Silvery fringe on the priest s expensive fur Collar shimmers. Arrest of the propagandist 1880-92 shows the sickening moment when a revolutionary is caught by police. As the District official examines his illegal literature the peasants he has come to help gaze out the window and chatter. They show Little interest in his Fate. The unexpected 1884 shows the Surprise return _ Repin and Natalya Nordman s Home is a museum. It is located just outside St. Petersburg. Home of a worn political prisoner after a Long exile and the disbelief of his family. Repin delves into human psychology. His portrayal of a country Church pageant highlights the participants vanity. A Large Well dressed woman carrying a Small icon holds up the anxious crowd with her slow pompous stride. A Deacon dressed in Gold brocade swings a Silver censer with one hand and smoother Back his hair with the other. A peasant blocks the path of an adolescent Hunchback with a Large stick in religious procession in the province of kursk 1878-83. Portraits include composer modest Petrovich Mussorgsky nearing the end of a life ravaged by alcohol gambling and debts and Tolstoy As an old Man at prayer. Repin also captures Russia s past. Czar Ivan the terrible fatally wounds his son during an argument at the Kremlin in Ivan the terrible and his son Ivan 16 november 1581 painted 1885. The half sister of Peter the great gapes at his execution of her political supporters from her prison in a Moscow monastery in the ruler tas Revna Sophia Alekseeva. During the execution of the St Eltsy 1879. The face the soul of Man the trauma of life. The spirit of history these it seems to me Are our themes Repin wrote a fellow artist in 1874. There is no better Way to describe his work. The Tretyakov gallery is not normally included on Repin painted at least 10 portraits of the writer Leo Tolstoy who was a personal Friend. 10 stripes Magazine february 17, 1994