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Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Ivan IV, Ivan Ivanovich, and Ilya Repin

All photos from Wikipedia.
The letter I is for Ivan IV (Ivan the Terrible); his son Ivan Ivanovich; and the artist Ilya Repin whose painting (below) of the two is probably the most famous picture of Ivan the Terrible.

The painting of Ivan IV at right is by Viktor Vasnetsov.






Ilya Repin, self-portrait
Ilya Repin's painting of Ivan IV and his dying son, Ivan Ivanovich.
The father struck the son during an argument which ensued after Ivan IV beat Ivanovich's pregnant wife because he disapproved of her clothing. And some people say he wasn't terrible?

1861 painting by Vyacheslov Grigorievich Schwarz, of Ivan IV meditating at his son's deathbed.
Ivan IV admiring the sixth of his eight wives, Vasilisa Melentyeva, in an 1875 painting by Grigory Semyonovich. He soon decided she wasn't as admirable as she appeared, however.


Posted for ABC Wednesday,
Mrs. Nesbitt's alphabetical meme, hosted by her faithful team.
To see how other bloggers used the letter I, please click HERE!


28 comments:

Meryl said...

WOW even reproduced online those paintings are magnificent! Thank you for the inspiration and awe I leave with!

Carver said...

Great post for the letter I. I've enjoyed your posts from Russia.

Leslie said...

he really must have been terrible!

S K Ditta said...

Some things could never be captured or revealed as they are in painitings. They are beautiful for aeshtetic value, sad in the stories they tell. Thank you for sharing these, Kay.

photowannabe said...

Fascinating history lessons in this weeks ABC posts. Beautiful if somewhat gruesome paintings. Thanks for sharing.

Nanka said...

I remember Ivan the Terrible from my History class but the only nice Ivan I know is a tennis star!!

Francisca said...

That last painting of Ivan is amazing in its detail and light, although the subject - an old man peering (leering?) at a young woman (even if it was his wife) - gives me icy shivers. Interesting choice for I, Kay! :-)

Roger Owen Green said...

What a schmuck!
ROG, ABC Wednesday team

Maude Lynn said...

Gorgeous paintings!

Mara said...

He sounds like a really nice bloke! Ahem...

VioletSky said...

I studied Russian history in high school and it was my favourite subject. There was always something...

Gigi Ann said...

I would say he was more than terrible, he was a monster.

Reader Wil said...

Ah, Ivan the Terrible! I read a book about him and was shocked about the absolute power he had over his subjects. He was an evil man.

Lisa said...

Geee, That Ivan was Terrible.

I really like this meme. Most posts are educational ~ well, not mine...:) and I just love them.

Wanda said...

Magnificent paintings, and your narrative is so informative!

Jane and Chris said...

He was an all round creepy dude!!
Jane x

Joy said...

I am just discovering Russian painting, these are fascinating, the Vasnetsov captures his 'terrible' nature perfectly.

Leslie: said...

He's always in the crossword puzzles! Great choice for today but an awful story about how he beat his son's wife because he didn't approve of her attire!

Leslie
abcw team

Chubskulit Rose said...

Interesting choice Kay, I learned some history in your post.

Inspector Hector is my letter I. Hope you can drop by!

Tumblewords: said...

An enlightening post, to be sure. So much I've forgotten. :) The painting appears to be a photo. Amazing.

Hildred said...

A great post, Kay. The last painting is magnificent.
I have to confess to thinking of Ivan Skavinsky Skavar when I first read "Ivan".....(have I spelled the name correctly)?

Liz Hinds said...

Terrible is very apt!

jabblog said...

What an unpleasant man!!

Kim, USA said...

Wow after he watched her intensively he decided she isn't that pleasing, this made me smile he is not nice ^_^

I am In

ChrisJ said...

How marvelous are these paintings -- color, light and detail are just amazing. I wish I had studied art when I was younger. I would really like to be able to study these more closely. You must be having (or had) a wonderful vacation.

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

so was he or was he not terrible?

Paula Scott Molokai Girl Studio said...

Definitely Ivan the terrible! Interesting too, that Ilya painted such scenes of violence. Not a good depiction of Ivan's character. And, interesting too, that he was able to do it and not get killed!

Lisa said...

I'm sure he honestly earned the reputation he had...and his name. That said, the paintings are fabulous!