The artwork is a portrait of Pavel Tretyakov, the founder of the Tretyakov Gallery, painted in 1883 by the renowned Russian artist Ilya Repin. This oil on canvas piece, measuring 98 by 76 centimeters, is housed at the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, Russia. The portrayal falls within the Realism art movement, which Repin is noted for, and the genre of this artwork is a portrait.
The artwork showcases Pavel Tretyakov seated in a wooden chair, angled slightly to the viewer’s left, and offering an introspective, sideways glance. His expression is solemn and thoughtful, hinting at the weight of intellect and perhaps the seriousness with which he approached his role as a patron of the arts. The distinguished figure is dressed in a black suit, his white shirt cuffs peeking out, drawing attention to his crossed arms which suggest a degree of introspection or self-possession.
Repin has captured the textures of Tretyakov’s attire, the softness of his beard, and the surrounding environment with meticulous detail, a testament to the artist’s skill in rendering the tactile and the visual. Behind Tretyakov, opulent gold frames suggest the art-filled context within which he is seated, indicating his status as a collector and a person of cultural import. The backgrounds subdued palette of pinks and purples provides a contrast that further emphasizes the subject’s features and attire. Repin’s masterful brushwork and his commitment to Realism are evident through the lifelike portrayal and the faithful rendition of the scene’s particulars.
