"Ivan Tsarevich on the Gray Wolf": a picture of the plot of a Russian folk tale

Viktor Mikhailovich Vasnetsov is a singer of Russian folklore. The painter left an indelible mark on the history of world art. One of the most famous works of the artist is familiar to many from childhood.

History of creation

Vasnetsov's painting "Ivan Tsarevich and the Gray Wolf" was created during his stay in Kiev. There he was invited to decorate with his art the interior of the cathedral of Vladimir. The artist was completely passionate about writing paintings on a religious theme. He fasted during this period, prayed a lot, asked for God's blessing. "Ivan Tsarevich on Gray Wolf" - a picture that was created in the Vladimir Cathedral. Then, in 1889, the artist interrupts the painting of the sacred structure and is completely given to work on a fairy-tale theme. The idea of a picture's consciousness on the plot of a folk tale is so captivating to the artist that he sometimes forgets to even eat.

Plot

"Ivan Tsarevich on the Gray Wolf" - a picture that expresses both danger and hope. Among the dense forest, the characters of the picture seem to soar above the earth. They hide from their pursuers.

The wolf quickly rushes Tsarevich with Elena ahead. His paws are strong, his ears are listening cautiously. Bewitch the eyes of the Wolf - these are not the eyes of an animal, but of a human being. Clear, focused, wise. The brave Ivan clings tightly to his beloved, whom he kidnapped. His eyes are fixed on the forest. He is tense and anxious. Can fight for Elena - his sword is ready. Helen the Fair-haired woman tilted her head fearfully on Tsarevich's shoulder. Her look is thoughtful. Long hair fluttering in the wind.

Choosing the prototype of the character of Elena the Beautiful, Tretyakov stopped on the sketch he had created in 1883. On it, he portrayed Natalia Anatolievna's niece S. Mamontov. It was in this girl that the artist found the image of a fragile girl necessary to him for writing a picture, obedient to her savior.

When you come into contact with the picture, the real world fades into the background. The atmosphere of magic, fantasy, and the past becomes actual. The description of the picture by Victor Vasnetsov "Ivan Tsarevich on the Gray Wolf" can be reduced to the definition of "fabulous".

Artistic value

The details of the work were carefully thought out by the artist and skillfully conveyed. "Ivan Tsarevich on the Gray Wolf" - a picture full of symbolism. Each element of the decoration of the Prince - expensive brocade caftan, gloves with an intricate pattern, red boots - emphasizes the status of the hero. Pearl necklace on the neck of Helen the Beautiful is a symbol of her purity, tenderness. In Russia, pearls were given to girls for marriage as a wish for a happy marriage. If you look closely, the wolf is not gray at all. The tone of his fur echoes the shades of Ivan's clothes. It is a symbol of the animal's belonging to his master, his devotion.

A special meaning is the image of the landscape. The forest in the work personifies the danger, the imminent threat. Branches that bent toward the heroes, as if strive to grab them, keep them, not to give the opportunity to hide from the pursuers. "Ivan Tsarevich on the Gray Wolf" - a picture that amazes with its colors and tones. It's the shades that create the feeling of an eerie atmosphere and fear. Among the gloomy forest, the artist painted a flowering branch - a symbol of hope for salvation.

For the first time the picture was published on a traveling exhibition. Today it can be admired in the Tretyakov Gallery.