Ilya Repin: Ivan the Terrible and His Son Ivan (1885)

(Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow, Russia)

A painting by the Russian artist Ilya Repin (1844-1930). This historical piece shows a dramatic moment which took place on 16 November 1581 during the reign of Tsar Ivan IV Vasilyevich (1530-1584), better known as Ivan the Terrible. Ivan IV is shown here with his son Ivan Ivanovich (1554-1581), Tsarevich (heir apparent) of Russia. A grief-stricken Ivan is cradling his wounded son: it is assumed that Ivan IV killed his son in a fit of rage. According to the usual story Tsar Ivan IV assaulted Yelena Sheremeteva, the wife of Ivan Ivanovich, for being inappropriately dressed. Yelena was pregnant at the time and the assault of Ivan caused a miscarriage. Ivan Ivanovich reprimanded for the attack on his wife, the argument between Ivan Ivanovich and his father escalated and Ivan struck his son with his staff (he also hit the future Tsar Boris Godunov who tried to intervene. The Tsarevich fell to the floor bleeding heavily. Ivan was quickly remorseful, but his son died a few days later. As a consequence of the death of Ivan Ivanovich tsar Ivan was succeeded by his pious but ineffectual son Feodor. Feodor died childless after a reign of 15 years after which the noble Boris Godunov managed to succeeded Feodor as Tsar of . The painting itself was and is very controversial in Russia as it shows the first Russian Tsar in a negative way. Painting from 1885.