International studio (52.1914)

Russian Art and American

IVAN THE TERRIBLE AFTER HE KILLS HIS SON BY ELIAS REPIN


as well. Repin’s various Tolstois show work and
convincing detail. One, of the half-blind, aged
Tolstoi, standing under a flowering tree and hold-
ing up his hands, seems to implore God to help
Russia. People were so moved by the picture
that the police ordered its removal. Repin painted
von Plehve showing only his back. That seems
to mean that the face would not bear looking at.
Is it not a quiet joke? Repin’s own photograph
is worth considering. One sees in it humanity and
appreciation. In Repin’s studio, at Cokola in
Finland, hangs a great marine picture, Cossack
Pirates. When the world sees it the judgment
may be that it is the greatest picture of our times.
At the time of the St. Louis Exposition Repin
and some of the minor Russian artists sent pic-
tures to the Exposition. The pictures were un-
fortunately consigned to a party named, I be-
lieve, Greenwald. After many adventures and
after repeated extensions of time from our Gov-
ernment, the pictures were finally sold for tariff
duties in San Francisco. Under the law, and
perhaps on account of the nature of the con-
signment, our Government was legally blameless;
but it seemed strange to Europeans that we could
invite a consignment of pictures for exhibition
purposes and then sell them for duty. In spite of
the following letter, Repin was most courteous
to the writer of the article. Repin is a vegetarian
and our cab driver remarked, “He lives on hay
soup.”
ii October, 1913.
Kuokkala, Penaty.
Dear Sir—The portrait of Plehve is in the hands of
his family. I have no photograph thereof and I do not

know Mme. Plehve’s address. Tolstoi
Under the Tree is in Moscow, in the gallery
of I. E. Tzvetkow (near the Church of the
Saviour). There is no photograph. Ru-
binstein’s portrait is in my hands, but it
is being changed and quite unfit for being
photographed. Cossack Pirates also is not
yet finished and no photograph can be
taken.
Several years ago a great number of
Russian artists were quite ruined by the
American duties on pictures (I, myself,lost
a picture which was worth over 3,000
rubles). After such a lesson I promised
myself not to enter into any connections
with Americans in regard to art and artists.
Yours truly,
(Signed) I. Repin.
In the 27th chapter of ‘’The Resur-
rection,” Tolstoi speaks with friendly
intimacy of Repin. One of the im-
pressive things in Russia is the close
friendship between the great leaders.
Take Tolstoi, Repin and Rubinstein, for exam-
ple—and a number of others. Indeed, while the
church is often antagonistic, Russian piety, the
arts in Russia and Russian friendship are strong
bonds.
Of Makowski, it need only be said that he alone
of all the great Russians seems to have fallen back
into French frivolity. Makowski is less convinc-
ing. He makes lively pictures of Russian men and
women. Look at the bashful bride, her comfort-
able mother, the ardent lover and guests made
jolly with wine.
There are great paintings by Surikoff.
In the Cathedral at Kronstadt a very handsome
young Russian named Michael Panin is now doing
some strong work. Panin’s Ivan here reproduced
shows the terrible Czar coming out of the Krem-
lin. The horse behind him snorts in fear. Gray-
beards bend their foreheads down to the snow in
terror. The painting is meritorious in colour and
drawing.


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