Lot 31 : IL'IA EFIMOVICH REPIN (1844-1930)

Ilya Repin - 1844-1930

Auction Location: United States of America - 2003
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Description:

Portrait of Fedor Gustavovich Terner, study for the painting 'Formal Session of the State Council in honour of its Centenary on May 7, 1901' (1901-1903) signed in Cyrillic 'Il. Repin' (lower left) oil on canvas 203/4x16 7/8in. (52.7x42.9cm.) LITERATURE Ernst, S. I.E. Repin, (Leningrad, 1927) p. 54 Grabar, I. & Zilberstein, I. Repin, Vol. I (Moscow, 1948) pp. 264-272 Liaskovskaia, O.A. I.E. Repin, (Moscow, 1982), pp. 384-392 Lieven, D. Russia's Rulers under the Old Regime, (London, 1989) Moscow, Tretiakov Gallery, Repin, (2000), pgs. 231-238 for an illustration of the full painting and its details. EXHIBITION Moscow, 34th Wanderers Exhibition, (1906), probably under n. 195A NOTES In April 1901, I. Repin received a commission to paint the picture Formal Session of the State Council in honour of its Centenary on May 7, 1901. Now in the Russian Museum in St. Petersburg, it is Repin's largest canvas (400x877cm.). Repin finished the painting only in December 1903. Helped by two of his students, B.M. Kustodiev and I.C. Kulikov (who were essentially in charge of the perspective and background), Repin was permitted to be present at all the sessions of the State Council for the preparation of the painting. Each member of the State Council including the Tsar, was asked by Repin to pose fully dressed early in the morning in the main Hall of the Mariinski Palace when no one else was present. When it was suggested to the artist to use photographs, Repin threatened to cancel the commission. Twenty-two studies for this large painting were exhibited for sale in Moscow in 1904 at the 32nd Wanderers Exhibition in support of the Russian Navy at the beginning of the Russian Japanese war. The Council, founded in 1810, was a body designed to advise the Emperor on civil legislation and the budget. The monarch was, however, not obliged to consult the State Council on such matters, still less to follow the advice of its majority, and up to 1906, all members of the Council were appointed by the Emperor. Assistant Minister of Finances, member of the State Council, Senator and member of the Geographical Society, Fedor Gustavovich Terner (1833-1906) left interesting memoirs published after his death, which are full of information on the Russian State institution, the State and its rulers under the Old Regime. For information on Il'ya Repin see lot 32.