For Ivan Silych Goryushkin-Sorokopudov, his main lifelong mentor was Ilya Efimovich Repin who was passionate about teaching. He sought to be not just a professor at the Imperial Academy of Arts but a source of inspiration for his students. Artistic discussions were held in his workshop, attended by Vasily Ivanovich Surikov, Arkhip Ivanovich Kuindzhi and Vasily Vasilyevich Mate.

The newspapers praised the high level of work produced by Ilya Repin’s students. The professor often visited their studios and interacted with young artists. In 1900, Ivan Goryushkin-Sorokopudov started full-time studies in Repin’s workshop. It was Repin who helped him develop an interest in historical themes.

Ivan Goryushkin-Sorokopudov wrote about Ilya Repin,