Early Life and Education

Ilya Yefimovich Repin, a renowned Russian realist painter, was born on July 24, 1844, in Chuguev, Ukraine, then part of the Russian Empire. His father, Yefim Vasilyevich Repin, was a private in the Uhlan Regiment of the Imperial Russian Army. Repin's early education took place at a local school where his mother taught. He later attended a military Cantonist school from 1854 to 1856.

Artistic Career

Repin's artistic journey began as an apprentice to Ivan Bunakov, a local icon painter, in 1856. He restored old icons and painted portraits of local notables through commissions. In 1863, he entered the St. Petersburg Art Academy to study painting, where he met fellow artist Ivan Kramskoi and critic Vladimir Stasov. Repin's work was recognized with a small gold medal for his painting Job and His Friends in 1869.

Notable Works and Exhibitions

Repin's most renowned works include:

• Barge Haulers on the Volga (1873), which was praised by critics and exhibited throughout Europe as an example of Russian realist painting.
• Religious Procession in Kursk Province (1883), showcasing his ability to capture the essence of Russian life.
• Reply of the Zaporozhian Cossacks (1880–91), a masterpiece that solidified Repin's position as a leading Russian artist. Repin's work was exhibited at the Salon in Paris (1874-1876) and the Itinerants' Society in Saint Petersburg. He was awarded the title of academician in 1876.

  Legacy and Later Life

  Repin taught at the Higher Art School attached to the Academy of Arts from 1894. In 1901, he was awarded the Legion of Honour. Repin passed away on September 29, 1930, and was buried at the Penates, his estate in Kuokkala, Finland (now Repino, Saint Petersburg). View Repin's Artworks on WahooArt: * [https://WahooArt.com/@/Ilya-Yefimovich-Repin](https://WahooArt.com/@/Ilya-Yefimovich-Repin) * [https://WahooArt.com/@@/5ZKCRY-Ilya-Yefimovich-Repin-Barge-Haulers-on-the-Volga](https://WahooArt.com/@@/5ZKCRY-Ilya-Yefimovich-Repin-Barge-Haulers-on-the-Volga) Explore Russian Art on WahooArt: * [https://WahooArt.com/@/D3CAA7-Tula-Regional-Art-Museum-(Russia)-A-Hidden-Gem-of-Russian-Art](https://WahooArt.com/@/D3CAA7-Tula-Regional-Art-Museum-(Russia)-A-Hidden-Gem-of-Russian-Art) * [https://WahooArt.com/@/D26CAA-The-Museum-of-Russian-Art-(Israel)](https://WahooArt.com/@/D26CAA-The-Museum-of-Russian-Art-(Israel))