Vasily Mirovich Standing over the Body of Ivan VI at Schlusselburg Fortress

Like many Russian realist paintings of the late 19th century, this artwork depicts a tragic scene: the execution of Ivan VI. Ivan Antonovich became emperor of Russia at 2 months, however, he was deposed within a year by Elizabeth Petrovna, the lone surviving heir of Peter I the Great. He was imprisoned for most of his life with his family and later moved to solitary confinement within Schlusselburg Fortress. On July 15th, 1764, Ivan was murdered by a guard who had been given orders to execute the man upon any attempt to free him during a secret coup conducted by Vasily Mirovich. The painting immortalizes this moment of Mirovich's shock as he and his men discover Ivan's lifeless body. The red coat beside Ivan forms the blood that has pooled around him and his face is peaceful as though he was executed in his sleep. His long hair, pale skin and unkempt beard show how the years of being a prisoner had worn him down. The men's expressions are in varying states of disbelief and shock and some, including Mirovich, have dropped their rifles in surprise. Ivan becomes the central focus using pale yellow in contrast to the bright reds and blues used for Mirovich and his men. The realist painter beautifully captures the expressions of the soldiers with masterful strokes that hearken back to the Baroque period and the Italian Renaissance.