A short story of Ivan Tsarevich on a gray wolf. Description of the painting by Viktor Vasnetsov “Ivan Tsarevich on a gray wolf

"Ivan Tsarevich on a gray wolf" - a painting by the great Russian artist Viktor Mikhailovich Vasnetsov (1848-1926). The painting was painted in 1889, oil on canvas, 249 × 187 cm. It is currently in the State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow.

Victor Vasnetsov. Ivan Tsarevich on a gray wolf

V. M. Vasnetsov created a whole series of paintings that illustrate the most famous Russian fairy tales and epics. Such paintings are: Bogatyrs, The Knight at the Crossroads, Flying Carpet, Alyonushka, Three Princesses underworld, Gamayun the prophetic bird, the Snow Maiden, Ilya Muromets, the Frog Princess, Koschey the Immortal and others. Paintings with subjects understandable to every Russian person became very popular. The extraordinary skill of the artist, who depicted various events from Russian fairy tales in a professional manner, was a real innovation. Whereas most of artists preferred to pay attention to Greek and Roman myths in her mythological work, paying tribute to ancient culture, Vasnetsov turned his attention to mythology ancient Rus', after all, researchers of Russian culture have long confirmed the fact that almost all fairy tales that are known today as folk tales are simplified myths that existed in the pagan era of ancient Rus'.

The plot of the picture illustrates one of the moments of the Russian fairy tale "Ivan Tsarevich and the Gray Wolf". According to the plot of the tale, Ivan Tsarevich, together with his beloved Elena the Beautiful, escapes from the chase on gray wolf.

The gray wolf in Vasnetsov's painting is presented in a rather unusual way. If you look closely, you can see that the wolf human eyes, and in all its form there is nothing from a dangerous predator.

Around those fleeing is a dark, dense, impenetrable forest.

In the foreground - blooming apple tree. The apple tree is a kind of symbol or allegory that relates us to the basis of the tale, which begins with the fact that the Firebird got into the habit of stealing apples in the royal garden.

The image of Elena the Beautiful Viktor Vasnetsov wrote from the niece of Savva Ivanovich Mamontov N. A. Mamontova, using for this a previously painted painting called “Portrait of Natalya Anatolyevna Mamontova”.

"Portrait of Natalya Anatolyevna Mamontova". Study for the figure of Elena the Beautiful in the painting "Ivan Tsarevich on the Gray Wolf" (1883)

Viktor Mikhailovich Vasnetsov (May 3, 1848, the village of Lopyal, Vyatka province, Russian empire- July 23, 1926, Moscow, USSR) - Russian painter and architect, master of historical and folklore painting. The younger brother is the artist Apollinary Vasnetsov.

The famous Russian artist Viktor Mikhailovich Vasnetsov is consummate master folk and history painting. Widely known for his paintings "The Knight at the Crossroads", "Alyonushka", "Heroes" and many others.

The painting was painted by the master in 1889 based on the famous folk tale. Looking at the picture, the viewer seems to be immersed in Magic world, being close to the main characters of the tale: Ivan Tsarevich and Elena the Beautiful, who run away on the Gray Wolf away from the feisty tsar and his kingdom. Sitting astride a wolf, Ivan tightly and tenderly hugs Elena the Beautiful.

The prince is dressed in a caftan made of expensive material, girded with a green belt, in black patterned mittens, in a red cap on his head and beautiful red boots. Ivan Tsarevich radiates a serious expression of imperturbable face. His huge eyes look anxiously into the distance, is it possible to chase after him there? Will someone take away his stolen happiness from him? A sword hangs behind the back of the brave prince, and the young man is always ready to defend himself and his beloved.

Before Ivan, Elena is depicted - a beauty personifying a Russian woman, with long curly brown hair that develops in the wind. She is dressed in a beautiful light blue silk caftan with a gold border on the sleeves. The neck is decorated with pearl beads of unprecedented beauty. Beautiful boots are on the feet. Her head is covered by a hat adorned with precious stones.

The girl laid her head on the prince's chest, trusting her savior with a thoughtful look. The princess gave her fate to the reliable young prince Ivan Tsarevich and meekly folded her hands in her lap. Elena the Beautiful is depicted by the artist's brush as his memory of his niece Natalia.

The Gray Wolf is depicted in motion. He rushes forward with all his strength so as not to be overtaken. The ears of the mythical wolf are flattened to the head, the tongue falls out of the huge mouth, but its eyes radiate confidence and calmness. Strong paws push the animal off the ground to take the next step through the swamp.

Fairy tale characters are depicted against the backdrop of a landscape. It is obvious that their path lies through a dense forest, as evidenced by trees overgrown with green moss with torn and cracked bark. In such a forest, it is dark and scary, as if evil forces surrounded the main characters. Impenetrable thickets rise around, and branches with snags make it difficult to quickly escape. Beautiful white lilies growing in the swamp and pale pink buds of an old apple tree with green leaves imply hope for a happy ending.

The picture is skillfully filled with contrasting colors, where the black paint of the forest is responsible for the symbol of otherworldly forces, danger and excitement. Fairy tale characters the paintings are painted in bright colors, which is akin to the forces of goodness and love. The struggle between good and evil is also present in this picture, but as in any story from the old famous fairy tales good will surely prevail over evil.

The Russian artist of the late 19th - early 20th centuries is known for his epic-historical and Russian-patriotic paintings. Having begun his journey as a painter in the Art Nouveau style, Vasnetsov found his niche and firmly occupied it by painting Alyonushka, Bogatyrs, and The Knight at the Crossroads. He especially succeeded in images filled with Russian folk art. One of the most unique examples of such painting is the painting "Ivan Tsarevich on a Gray Wolf". The fate of the canvas is extremely interesting.

For the sake of its creation, Viktor Vasnetsov temporarily left the work that he had done in Kyiv, in the Cathedral of St. Vladimir. It happened in 1889. To the artist suddenly came creative idea which he hastened to carry out. Thus, a canvas measuring almost 3 m wide and 2 m high appeared. The work is an illustration of the Russian fairy tale "About Ivan Tsarevich and the Gray Wolf". Ivan Tsarevich picked up Elena the Beautiful, saddled the gray wolf and rushed through the dark forest away from the chase. It is noteworthy that the model for the image of Elena the Beautiful was another painting by Vasnetsov - "Girl with Peaches", where 5 years earlier he painted Savva Mamontov's niece - Natalya.

"Ivan Tsarevich" the artist wrote at the creative peak of his artistic career, he was 38 years old. Behind are modernist works that did not particularly resonate with admirers. His fellow painters were also very restrained in praise. They sometimes spoke coldly and unflatteringly about Vasnetsov's paintings, not realizing that he puts all his Russian soul into them, calling on them to love the history of their homeland.

The canvas very accurately depicts the action taking place in a Russian fairy tale. Elena the Beautiful leaned on the shoulder of Ivan Tsarevich. The prince's eyes are worried and alarmed, he looks back, checking if there is a chase. Lovers are afraid that they can be overtaken and separated, but at the same time it is safe and good in each other's arms. The wolf runs at full speed, so that the hair of the princess flutters in the air. In the midst of the terrible dense forest the characters look so contrastingly - the piercing blue dress of the princess and coquettish boots embroidered with gold, Ivan's light-sand caftan and the gray-brown fur of a huge wolf, which runs with large jumps and tries to save its riders from misfortune.

In a forest filled with gloomy and heavy fantasies, apple-tree flowers bloom as a symbol of invincible love and beauty. They are so thin, tender and vulnerable that it seems - the slightest breath and the color will fall off. However, Vasnetsov added this allegory for a reason, he wanted to strengthen the impression of two lovers and the effect of the approaching chase. The conceived painter succeeded. "Ivan Tsarevich on a gray wolf" is an integral and complete plot of a fairy tale. Looking at it, you always want to re-read it again and again.

Period of work in the Ukrainian capital in the Vladimir Cathedral famous artist V. M. Vasnetsov was noted for the appearance of the idea of ​​an illustration for the ancient Russian story “Ivan Tsarevich and the Gray Wolf”.

The plot of the picture tells about overcoming the difficulties that are associated with the violation of prohibitions by Ivan Tsarevich. In the foreground there is a swamp with water lilies, an old crooked apple tree with flowering branches. In the center of the picture, the figures of Elena the Beautiful and Ivan Tsarevich appear, who fly through the thicket on the Gray Wolf away from Tsar Dalmat.

The author depicted Ivan Tsarevich in expensive royal clothes, proudly sitting on a wolf. His firm gaze is directed into the distance, faith in salvation is reflected in his eyes. He gently hugs the beauty, feeling his responsibility for her fate.

The pose of Elena the Beautiful reflects both fear, and humility to her fate, and trust in her savior. She laid her head on the firm shoulder of Ivan Tsarevich, her hands lie calmly on her knees.

The image of the princess was written by V. M. Vasnetsov from Natalya Anatolyevna Mamontova, his niece, and was worked out as early as 1883 as a separate sketch. The swift running of the wolf is expressed by its posture: the paws are extended in a jump, the ears are pressed. The characters are arranged diagonally, which gives the impression of movement.

In the background are powerful trunks of ancient oaks. The background drawn using dark colors. The dark gamma reflects the state of fear, the impending danger of persecution. Against this background, the figures of heroes, written in light colors, stand out decisively, since they are doing a just cause. Among the swampy swamp, white water lilies are visible, a flowering branch is located on the side, which symbolize the hope for success.

In addition to the description of the painting by V. M. Vasnetsov “Ivan Tsarevich on the Gray Wolf”, our website has collected many other descriptions of paintings by various artists, which can be used both in preparation for writing an essay on the painting, and simply for a more complete acquaintance with the work illustrious masters of the past.