In this picture Sergey Simakov depicted a scene from a legend. The legend tells the story of the miraculous appearance of the icon Annunciation to the Theotokos on the tower wall of the Moscow Kremlin during the reign of Ivan IV (Ivan the Terrible). According to the legend, an innocent battle master (waywode) was wrongfully accused and thrown into the tower-prison of the Kremlin Granary yard. The prisoner did not lose hope or faith and prayed for mercy and protection from the Tsar’s wrath, after the miraculous appearance of the icon he was granted pardon and released.
The picture depicts the moment before the planned execution. The waywode, his hands cuffed and folded in prayer, is standing beside the executioner in a long red body-shirt, the scene is set inside the Kremlin yard. The prisoner is praying for mercy. His prayer is answered — a ray of light from the image of Annunciation reaches him. Ivan the Terrible is presented on the right.
Simakov intentionally depicted the characters of executioner, waywode and the Tsar in static poses, avoiding excessive expressive effects in order to focus on the appearance of the icon. Dynamics is introduced into the picture with the figures of people in the background proceeding to the wooden chapel. The chapel was built in veneration of the icon at the behest of Ivan the Terrible.
The picture depicts the moment before the planned execution. The waywode, his hands cuffed and folded in prayer, is standing beside the executioner in a long red body-shirt, the scene is set inside the Kremlin yard. The prisoner is praying for mercy. His prayer is answered — a ray of light from the image of Annunciation reaches him. Ivan the Terrible is presented on the right.
Simakov intentionally depicted the characters of executioner, waywode and the Tsar in static poses, avoiding excessive expressive effects in order to focus on the appearance of the icon. Dynamics is introduced into the picture with the figures of people in the background proceeding to the wooden chapel. The chapel was built in veneration of the icon at the behest of Ivan the Terrible.
