Ilya Repin was a famous painter of the second half of the 19th century who belonged to the Wanderers — a group of Russian Realist painters. The portrait genre occupied a special place in his work.
The 1880s became Repin’s most productive period. At this time, he created a whole gallery of portraits of famous contemporaries.
The artist not only noticed and portrayed the characteristic features of the appearance of his models, but he also sought to reveal the distinctive traits of their characters. The Russian painter, art historian and art critic Nicholas Benois highly appreciated Repin as a portrait painter:
The 1880s became Repin’s most productive period. At this time, he created a whole gallery of portraits of famous contemporaries.
The artist not only noticed and portrayed the characteristic features of the appearance of his models, but he also sought to reveal the distinctive traits of their characters. The Russian painter, art historian and art critic Nicholas Benois highly appreciated Repin as a portrait painter: