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Bogatyrs (The Three Knights)
Viktor Vasnetsov · Symbolism & Art Nouveau
- Artist
- Viktor Mikhaylovich Vasnetsov (1848–1926)
- Date
- 1881–1898
- Dimensions
- 295.3 x 446 cm
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Location
- State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow, Russia
Bogatyrs shows the three greatest heroes of Russian folk epics, Dobrynya Nikitich, Ilya Muromets and Alyosha Popovich, on horseback on a windswept steppe, keeping watch over the borders of the Russian land.
A closer look
In the centre, the mighty Ilya Muromets on a huge black horse shades his eyes with his hand, scanning the horizon for enemies. On his left, Dobrynya draws his sword from its sheath; on his right, the young, crafty Alyosha holds his bow, with a psaltery hanging from his saddle. The grey sky, the swaying grass and the low hills create a sense of vast space. Vasnetsov worked on the painting for nearly twenty years, aiming to capture the spirit of ancient Russian legends rather than any particular episode.