Decembrists in Chitinsky ostrog
Drawing by N.P.Repin
Chita
1829
Paper on cardboard, watercolour, gouash
19,3 х 33,4 (23 х 37,2) cm
Acquisition: from the State Museum of Revolution, USSR, 1944
Showcase 8
The drawing is made from life by Decembrist N.P.Repin (1796–1831). Ostrog (small fort and prison specially built in Chita) became the first location for a large Decembrists’ colony (1827–1830), where a famous “Academy” was organized.
The drawing represents; A.N.Sutgof, P.I.Lorer, M.A.Fonvizin, N.M.Muravyov, S.G.Volkonsky, I.D.Yakushkin, A.M.Muravyov.
M.A.Bestuzhev wrote; “The prison united us, gave us mutual support, gave us will to live, gave us political existence beyond political death, and through women – our guardian angels - it connected us to the world we had been deprived of after our political death”.
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