In his “Tsarevich Ivan on a Grey Wolf”, Viktor Vasnetsov reproduced an episode from “The Tale of Tsarevich Ivan, the Firebird and the Grey Wolf”.

The text going back to the popular print of the 18th century and recounted by Alexander Afanasyev, reads: “Tsarevich Ivan sitting on a grey wolf with the beautiful princess Elena, fell in love with her with all his heart, and she reciprocated”. Seeking to reveal the charm and loftiness of folklore fantasy to the viewer and convey folk vision of beauty and happiness, Vasnetsov uses poetic images of pagan Rus’. The huge tree trunks in dark, impenetrable woods look like giant monsters. A disturbing light of dawn barely seeps through the intertwined branches. A quagmire with water lilies is fraught with danger. An atmosphere of anxiety and sadness surrounds the characters: we know that parting and misfortunes await the runaways. In the foreground is a wonderfully blossoming apple tree as a symbol of overpowering love and sign of a happy end. The images of the heroes - feminine, touchingly tender, and sad Elena the Beautiful and courageous and noble tsarevich - correspond to the folk views on beauty, love, and fidelity.

Vasnetsov's painting made a strong impression on his contemporaries. Savva Mamontov, ? famous Russian entrepreneur and philanthropist, wrote to the artist that his "Tsarevich on a Wolf" delighted him. “All this feels like mine, dear and good! I just came to life!” he wrote. The artist's ability to tune in to the beat of folk attitudes, find pictorial and plastic equivalents to folklore images and convey them with all the spontaneity inherent in folk art won wide popularity and everlasting love of the public to his epic and fairytale artworks.

The painting "Tsarevich Ivan on a Grey Wolf" was displayed at the 17th exhibition of thePartnership of Travelling Art Exhibitionsin 1889 and was then acquired by Pavel Tretyakov.

Provenance:

1889 Acquired by Pavel Tretyakov from the artist.