TheOldMastersPrintsIvan the Terrible and his son Ivan on November 16, 1581 by Ilya Repin: meaning, location and key facts
Ivan the Terrible and his son Ivan on November 16, 1581 is an oil on canvas by Ilya Repin, painted between 1883 and 1885. It measures 199.5 × 254 cm and is held at the Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.
Key facts
| Artist | Ilya Repin |
|---|---|
| Date | 1883–1885 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 199.5 × 254 cm (height × width) |
| Museum | Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow |
| Style | Russian Realism |
| Data source | Wikidata (Q4195595) · Wikipedia |
What it shows
Tsar Ivan IV holds his dying son, the Tsarevich Ivan, whom he has just struck on the head with his staff in a fit of rage on 16 November 1581. The father’s wild stare contrasts with the calm of the son as his life ebbs away.
Repin painted it between 1883 and 1885. The red carpet, the staff on the floor and the blood running between the tsar’s fingers heighten the horror of the scene.
Did you know?
- Its exhibition was banned for a time in 1885 on the orders of Alexander III.
- It was attacked with a knife in 1913 and with a metal post in 2018, and was restored both times.
- The painter Grigory Myasoyedov posed as the tsar and the writer Vsevolod Garshin as his son.
Where to see the original
Ivan the Terrible and his son Ivan on November 16, 1581 is at the Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow. Works are sometimes lent to exhibitions or taken down for restoration, so it is worth checking the museum’s website before you go.
Which print size to choose
The print keeps the proportions of the original: if they differ from the paper, the painting is centred with a white border and never cropped. More details in our size guide.
| A4 (21 × 29.7 cm) | shelves, desks and gallery walls |
|---|
Prints are made to order in the Czech Republic and reach the EU in 3 to 8 days, with no customs. Canvases are made in the USA and take about 2 to 3 weeks, with EU VAT included in the price.
Frequently asked questions
- Where is Ivan the Terrible and his son Ivan on November 16, 1581?
- The original is held at the Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.
- How big is Ivan the Terrible and his son Ivan on November 16, 1581?
- The original painting measures 199.5 × 254 cm (height × width).
- Who painted Ivan the Terrible and his son Ivan on November 16, 1581 and when?
- It was painted by Ilya Repin between 1883 and 1885.
- Can I hang a reproduction of Ivan the Terrible and his son Ivan on November 16, 1581 at home?
- Yes. The work is in the public domain, so it can be freely reproduced. We offer it as a matte print in A4 (from €18.99) and as a ready-to-hang canvas (from €54.99), with free shipping to the EU.
Updated 21 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Message us through the shop and we will fix it.
