Artwork

Portrait of the Surgeon Nikolai Ivanovich Pirogov

Portrait of the Surgeon Nikolai Ivanovich Pirogov, by Ilya Repin, oil, 1891
Portrait of the Surgeon Nikolai Ivanovich Pirogov, by Ilya Repin, oil, 1891

Portrait of the Surgeon Nikolai Ivanovich Pirogov is an oil painting by the Realist artist Ilya Repin. It dates from 1891 and is held in the collection of the Tretyakov Gallery.

About this work

Overview

Painted in 1891, *Portrait of the Surgeon Nikolai Ivanovich Pirogov* is an oil painting by Ilya Repin, a prominent 19th-century Russian artist of Ukrainian origin. The work is a representative example of Realist portraiture.

Subject & Meaning

The portrait depicts Nikolai Ivanovich Pirogov, a renowned surgeon, in a direct and serious manner. His attire—a black coat with a red tie—and dignified expression convey professionalism and gravity. The composition focuses attention on the subject through a dark background.

Technique & Style

Repin employed chiaroscuro, a strong contrast between light and dark, to achieve depth and volume in the painting. This technique, characteristic of Realist portraiture, enhances the subject's presence and contributes to the overall solemn mood.

History & Provenance

The painting is part of the collection at the Tretyakov Gallery, a notable repository of Russian art.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Ilya Repin

Artist

Ilya Repin

Ilya Yefimovich Repin (5 August 1844 – 29 September 1930) was a Ukrainian-born Russian painter.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Tretyakov Gallery open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.