Masterpiece by Ilya Repin "Cossacks write a letter to the Turkish Sultan"is one of the most recognizable paintings of Russian painting, which has become a symbol of freedom, humor and rebellion. The canvas depicts a legendary episode from the history of the Zaporozhye Sich: the Cossacks are composing a daring response to the ultimatum of the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed IV. But who is really the author of this picture? Where is the original kept today, and why did the Turkish ruler never read the famous message?
In this article we will look at historical context creating a painting, analyzing its composition and hidden details, and also answering questions that viewers often have. You will learn which real prototypes served as models for the characters, why Repin worked on the canvas for more than 10 years, and how modern technologies helped restore the lost fragments of the masterpiece. And also - where you can see the original and what copies exist in the world.
Author of the painting: Ilya Repin and his path to a masterpiece
Ilya Efimovich Repin (1844–1930) — great Russian realist artist, author of such famous paintings as “Barge haulers on the Volga», «Ivan the Terrible and his son Ivan" and "We didn't wait" Work on “Cossacks” became one of the most ambitious and lengthy for him: the first sketch appeared in 1880, and the final version was completed only in 1891.
Repin was not a Zaporozhye Cossack, but he was deeply concerned with the theme of freedom and resistance to tyranny. The artist carefully studied historical documents, life and traditions of the Zaporozhye Sich, and also visited Ukraine to get acquainted with the local flavor. To create an image Koshevoy Ataman Ivan Sirko (the central figure of the picture) he even used a portrait of a real historical figure - Hetman Peter Sahaidachny, whose features were known from engravings.
- 🎨 First version of the painting (1880–1881) was smaller and is kept in the Kharkov Art Museum. Repin was dissatisfied with the composition and decided to rewrite the canvas.
- 📜 Source of inspiration: the legend about the letter from the Cossacks to the Sultan is based on a real event
1676, when Mehmed IV demanded that the Cossacks surrender, and they responded with a mocking message. - 🖌️ Writing technique: Repin used the method multilayer glaze, applying the paint in thin, transparent layers to achieve depth of color.
It's interesting that the artist I have never seen the original text of the letter from the Cossacks - it was lost, and modern versions (including the most famous, with obscene language) appeared later, in 19th century, as a folklore reconstruction. Repin relied on folk retellings and historical chronicles, which described the very fact of the daring answer.
The plot of the film: what did the Cossacks actually write to the Sultan?
The central episode of the canvas is the moment when the Cossacks collectively compose a response to the ultimatum of the Turkish Sultan. According to legend, Mehmed IV sent a letter to the Cossacks demanding that they voluntarily surrender, threatening otherwise to destroy the Sich. In response, the Cossacks wrote mocking and insulting message, which went down in history as an example of rebellion and love of freedom.
The text of the letter as we know it today is reconstruction, made by historians and folklorists. The most popular version goes like this:
“You, Sultan, are the Turkish devil, and the damned devil’s brother and comrade, Luciper’s own secretary! What the hell are you like, what is wrong with you like other people? The devil vomited, and your mother gulped...”
However the original text has not survived - it was lost back in XVII century. Modern researchers believe that the real letter was less vulgar, but no less daring in essence. It is important to understand that Repin depicted not so much a specific historical fact, but symbol of resistance to oppression.
| Picture element | Symbolic meaning |
|---|---|
| Koshevoy Ataman Ivan Sirko (in red) | Leader, embodiment of wisdom and authority |
| Cossack with a feather (writing a letter) | People's mind and collective creativity |
| Laughing Cossacks in the center | Mockery of the enemy, fearlessness |
| Turkish trophies (sabers, banners) | Victories over the Ottoman Empire |
If you want to read the full text of the reconstructed letter from the Cossacks, it is easy to find in open sources. However, remember that this is an artistic interpretation and not a historical document.
Where is the original painting and how much does it cost?
Original painting “Cossacks writing a letter to the Turkish Sultan” (version 1891, size 203 × 358 cm) is stored in State Russian Museum in St. Petersburg. The canvas was purchased from Repin personally by Emperor Alexander III for a record amount at that time - 35,000 rubles (today the equivalent of several million).
There are several more copyrighted versions and copies:
- 🖼️ First version (1880–1881) — Kharkov Art Museum (Ukraine). Smaller in size, with a different composition.
- 📜 Sketches and sketches — stored in the Tretyakov Gallery and private collections.
- 🎭 Copies of Repin's students — some of them are exhibited in regional museums in Russia and Ukraine.
B 2023 Repin's sketches and prepared works for this painting appeared at auctions; their cost reached $2–5 million. However, the original not for sale — it is part of the Russian museum collection and is considered a national treasure. B 2014 the painting was temporarily taken to an exhibition in London, where insurance companies valued it at $200 million.
⚠️ Attention: On the Internet there are often offers for the sale of “originals” of Repin’s paintings. It's always fake! This masterpiece is under the protection of the museum and will never be put up for auction.
Hidden details and symbols: what did you not notice in the painting?
Repin was a master of details, and there are many hidden in “Zaporozhets” hidden meanings and historical references. Here are a few of them:
- Prototype characters: Many Cossacks in the picture have real prototypes. For example, clerk (the one who holds the pen) was written from the historian Dmitry Yavornitsky, a friend of Repin. And the image old Cossack with a pipe A peasant from the Poltava province posed for the artist.
- Turkish trophies: In the background hang sabers, banners and even Yanchar horsetails - symbols of victories over the Ottoman Empire. This is not just decor, but a reminder of military triumphs.
- Letter on the table: If you look closely, there is a draft letter on the table with words crossed out - Repin thus showed that the answer to the Sultan was composed collectively, with edits and discussions.
- Facial expressions: There is not a single Cossack in the picture who looks scared. Even the old man in the center smiling, which emphasizes the mocking attitude towards the Sultan’s threat.
Another little-known detail: in the background, behind the backs of the Cossacks, Repin depicted Dnieper river and steppe - this is not just a landscape, but a symbol freedom and space, which were more valuable than life for the Cossacks. The artist specifically used warm colors for the sky to create a contrast with the dark figures of the Turks in the background (they are almost invisible, but they are there!).
Who is Ivan Sirko and why is he in the center of the picture?
Ivan Dmitrievich Sirko (1605–1680) - the legendary Koshevoy Ataman of the Zaporozhye Sich, participant in many campaigns against the Turks and Tatars. Repin placed him in the center of the composition for a reason: Sirko was a symbol of invincibility and cunning. Historians claim that he could have been the author of the real letter to the Sultan.
Why did Sultan Mehmed IV never receive an answer?
This is one of the most intriguing questions surrounding the painting. According to historical chronicles, the Cossacks' letter was actually sent, but it most likely did not reach the Sultan. Why?
There are several versions:
- 📜 Courier interception: Ottoman officials could intercept the letter and destroy it, so as not to bring the offensive text to the Sultan.
- 🗡️ Military actions: B
1676When the letter was written, there was a war going on between the Ottoman Empire and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Perhaps the message was lost in the chaos of the fighting. - 🎭 Legend, not fact: Some historians believe that the letter itself is folklore myth, which arose later. There is no documentary evidence of its existence.
Repin most likely knew about this uncertainty, but it was more important for him to convey spirit of resistance, not historical accuracy. Cossacks in the picture laughing, writing a response, is the artist’s main message: a free people is not afraid of threats, even from the powerful Sultan.
Repin's painting is not a historical document, but an artistic embodiment of a legend. Its value lies in the symbolism, not in the precision of the details.
How was Repin's painting used in propaganda and culture?
Repin's masterpiece has become an instrument more than once political propaganda and inspired artists, writers and filmmakers. Here are some examples:
- 🎬 Cinema: The scene of writing the letter was reproduced in the film "Taras BulbaSplit» (2011).
- 📚 Literature: Nikolai Gogol in "Taras Bulba" described a similar episode, although he did not directly connect it with the letter to the Sultan.
- 🎵 Music: Ukrainian rock band "Who's Down?"dedicated a song to the picture"Leaf to Sultan».
- 🇺🇦🇷🇺 Policy: B
2014–2022The image of the Cossacks was used as a symbol of resistance in the Ukrainian-Russian conflict.
In the Soviet Union, the picture was considered an example freedom struggle and was often reproduced in history textbooks. However, after the collapse of the USSR, its interpretation became more controversial: some researchers accused Repin of romanticization of the Cossacks, ignoring its controversial role in the history of Ukraine and Russia.
Today, “The Cossacks” remain one of the most cited works of Russian art. For example, in 2020 a meme appeared on social networks with the inscription “Cossacks write a letter to coronavirus", which once again proved: Repin’s masterpiece is relevant even after 130+ years after creation.
How to see the painting today: museums, exhibitions, digital copies
If you want to see the original “Cossacks”, there are several ways:
- State Russian Museum (St. Petersburg):
- 📍Address:
Inzhenernaya st., 4. - 🕒 Opening hours: 10:00–18:00 (except Mondays).
- 🎟️ Ticket price: from
500 rubles(benefits apply).
- 📍Address:
If you are planning a visit, please note:
☑️ What to take with you to the museum
⚠️ Attention: B
2022–2026Due to the political situation, some exhibits of the Russian Museum may be temporarily unavailable for inspection. Check the latest information on the official website.
FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions about the painting
🔍 Why are there so many laughing Cossacks in the picture? Is this historically accurate?
Repin specially emphasized laughter and ridicule to emphasize fearlessness of the Cossacks. It is historically certain that the Cossacks indeed answered the Sultan boldly, but their emotions at the time of writing the letter are unknown. The artist used fiction to enhance the effect.
🎨 How long did Repin work on the painting?
From the first sketches to the final version it took 11 years old (1880–1891). Repin constantly refined the composition, looked for nature for the characters and experimented with colors.
📜 Is there an authentic text of the Cossacks’ letter?
No, the original is lost. The best known version of the text is the reconstruction 19th centurybased on oral traditions. There is also no mention of this letter in the archives of the Ottoman Empire.
🖼️ Why are there no women in the picture?
Zaporizhian Sich was all-male community. Women were forbidden to live on the territory of the Sich, so their absence from the picture is historically justified.
💰 How much is the painting worth today?
The original is not for sale, but its insurance value is estimated at $200–300 million. Sketches and prepared works by Repin at auctions reach $1–5 million.