Portrait of M. P. Mussorgsky

Portrait of M. P. Mussorgsky
ArtistIlya Repin
Year1881
Dimensions58.5 cm × 71.8 cm (23 132 in × 28 932 in)
LocationTretyakov Gallery, Moscow, Russia

Portrait of M. P. Mussorgsky is an 1881 oil painting by Russian realism painter Ilya Repin depicting composer, Modest Mussorgsky.[1] Its dimensions are 58.5 cm x 71.8 cm (23 1/32 in x 38 9/32 in), and it's located at the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, Russia, with the inventory number, 730.[2] It was painted merely days prior to the composer's death.

History

Repin was initially requested to paint the work by Vladimir Stasov.[3] He painted it at Nikolaevsky Military Hospital over the span of four sittings. They took place between 14 and 17 March 1881 O.S., or 2 and 5 March 1881 N.S.[2] Repin used a desk to create the portrait due to the unavailability of an easel at the hospital.[4]

The painting was later sold to Pavel Tretyakov, who had purchased the work for 400 rubles without even seeing it. Repin ended up donating that money to help fund a monument in Mussorgsky's honor.[2][5]

Description

The composer is depicted against a neutral colored background wearing a green hospital robe with red trim.[6]

References

  1. ^ "Portrait of Modest Musorgsky". Obelisk Art History. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
  2. ^ a b c "Портрет М.П. Мусоргского". my.tretyakov.ru. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
  3. ^ Swolkień (1970), p. 304–305.
  4. ^ "Portrait of M. P. (Modest Petrovich) Musorgsky by Ilya Repin". thehistoryofart.org. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
  5. ^ Swolkień (1970), p. 309.
  6. ^ "Portrait of the composer M. P. Mussorgsky". Arthive. Archived from the original on 18 June 2024. Retrieved 30 January 2026.

Sources

  • Swolkień, Henryk [in Polish] (1970). Musorgski (in Polish). Krakow, Poland: Polish Music Publishing House. ISBN 8322401256.