Who painted Mortally wounded?

Mortally wounded was painted by Vasily Vereshchagin in 1873.

Where can I see Mortally wounded?

Mortally wounded is held by Tretyakov Gallery.

What movement is Mortally wounded?

Mortally wounded is associated with Realism.

Can I buy a print of Mortally wounded?

Museum-quality prints of Mortally wounded are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Mortally wounded

Vasily Vereshchagin , 1873

Mortally wounded is an unspecified painting by the Realist artist Vasily Vereshchagin. It dates from 1873 and is held in the collection of the Tretyakov Gallery.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1873 by Russian painter Vasily Vereshchagin, *Mortally Wounded* presents a stark, realist view of battlefield injury. The canvas captures a lone soldier in a white uniform, clutching a rifle and bayonet while blood stains his clothing, set against a muted backdrop of fallen comrades and a distant crenellated wall.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure, a wounded combatant, embodies the physical toll of combat, emphasizing the immediate danger and chaos of war rather than heroic idealisation. The presence of other fallen soldiers reinforces the collective loss and the harsh reality of conflict.

Technique & Style

Executed in a realistic manner, Vereshchagin employs precise rendering of uniform details and battlefield debris. A restrained palette of browns, grays and muted whites conveys a somber atmosphere, while careful modeling of light and shadow heightens the sense of immediacy.

History & Provenance

Vereshchagin’s unflinching war scenes often attracted censorship; nevertheless, *Mortally Wounded* entered the collection of Moscow’s Tretyakov Gallery, where it remains on view as part of the museum’s Russian art holdings.

Context

The work belongs to Vereshchagin’s early series of combat studies, produced after his travels to various war zones. It aligns with a broader 19th‑century Russian interest in documenting the realities of military life, contrasting with more romanticised depictions of battle.

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Artist & collection

Artist

Vasily Vereshchagin

Vasily Vasilyevich Vereshchagin (Russian: Васи́лий Васи́льевич Вереща́гин; 26 October 1842 – 13 April 1904) was a Russian painter, war artist, and traveller.