Artwork

Konstantin Nikolai Lebedev, luonnos maalaukseen A. Puškin Lyseon juhlatilaisuudessa tammikuun 8. päivänä vuonna 1815

Konstantin Nikolai Lebedev, luonnos maalaukseen A. Puškin Lyseon juhlatilaisuudessa tammikuun 8. päivänä vuonna 1815 is a drawing by Ilya Repin. It is held in the collection of the Finnish National Gallery. Konstantin Nikolai Lebedev’s sketch records a figure from the celebration of Alexander Pushkin’s graduation at the Lyceum on 8 January 1815.

About this work

Overview

Konstantin Nikolai Lebedev’s sketch records a figure from the celebration of Alexander Pushkin’s graduation at the Lyceum on 8 January 1815.

Konstantin Nikolai Lebedev’s sketch records a figure from the celebration of Alexander Pushkin’s graduation at the Lyceum on 8 January 1815. Executed in a rapid, gestural manner, the drawing captures a gentleman in a dark coat and light breeches, one arm lifted as if delivering a toast, the other clutching a folded cloth. The work serves as a preparatory study for a larger composition of the event.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure appears to be a participant in the ceremonial gathering, his posture suggesting a moment of public address or convivial speech. The raised arm and the clasped handkerchief convey both the formality of the occasion and the personal gestures typical of early‑19th‑century Russian academic celebrations.

Technique & Style

Lebedev employed swift, loose lines and cross‑hatching to suggest volume and fabric without detailed rendering. The sketch’s economy of stroke reflects a focus on capturing movement and silhouette rather than precise anatomy, a common approach in preparatory studies for narrative paintings of the period.

History & Provenance

Created as a preliminary drawing for a larger oil painting commemorating Pushkin’s Lyceum graduation, the sketch remained in Lebedev’s studio before entering a private collection. It resurfaced in the early 20th century through an estate sale and has since been documented in Russian art inventories.

Context

The Lyceum graduation of 1815 marked a significant cultural moment, celebrating the education of future literary figures such as Pushkin. Lebedev’s work reflects the broader Russian tradition of documenting academic ceremonies, linking visual art with the nation’s emerging literary heritage.