The collection of the Military Medical Museum contains a study ‘Arrival of Nikolay Ivanovich Pirogov to Moscow for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of his scientific activities’ by the Russian painter Ilya Repin.
In May 1881, the Imperial Moscow University was making preparations to celebrate the half-century anniversary of the scientific activities of the outstanding surgeon Nikolay Pirogov. The scientist was invited to visit his alma mater, and he agreed. The ceremonial reception and special lectures were planned for the third week of the month. Representatives of many Russian hospitals, inpatient facilities, scientific and pedagogical institutions and organizations came to Moscow to greet Nikolay Pirogov.
Ilya Repin, who was working at that time in Moscow and the Moscow region, found out about the celebration of the anniversary and the arrival of Pirogov. He was interested in Russian medicine in general, and particularly in Pirogov’s works, so he wanted to meet with the “ grand old man ” and make his portrait. On May 20, 1881, Repin sent a letter from his dacha (country house) in Khotkovo to his friend, critic and art expert Vladimir Stasov:
In May 1881, the Imperial Moscow University was making preparations to celebrate the half-century anniversary of the scientific activities of the outstanding surgeon Nikolay Pirogov. The scientist was invited to visit his alma mater, and he agreed. The ceremonial reception and special lectures were planned for the third week of the month. Representatives of many Russian hospitals, inpatient facilities, scientific and pedagogical institutions and organizations came to Moscow to greet Nikolay Pirogov.
Ilya Repin, who was working at that time in Moscow and the Moscow region, found out about the celebration of the anniversary and the arrival of Pirogov. He was interested in Russian medicine in general, and particularly in Pirogov’s works, so he wanted to meet with the “ grand old man ” and make his portrait. On May 20, 1881, Repin sent a letter from his dacha (country house) in Khotkovo to his friend, critic and art expert Vladimir Stasov: