Heroes was painted by Viktor Vasnetsov in 1896.

Where can I see Heroes?

Heroes is held by Tretyakov Gallery.

What movement is Heroes?

Heroes is associated with Russian Icon.

Can I buy a print of Heroes?

Museum-quality prints of Heroes are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Heroes

Viktor Vasnetsov , 1896

Heroes is an oil painting by the Russian Icon artist Viktor Vasnetsov. It dates from 1896 and is held in the collection of the Tretyakov Gallery.

About this work

Overview

Heroes is an 1896 oil painting by Viktor Vasnetsov, associated with the Russian Revivalist movement. The work features three mythological bogatyrs on horseback in a natural setting.

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts three bogatyrs (medieval Slavic heroic figures) riding through a grassy field, each dressed in distinctive attire (red and blue, black, green and red) and armed with spears, conveying a sense of collective purpose and bravery.

Technique & Style

Executed in oil paint, the work showcases Vasnetsov's characteristic approach within the Russian Revivalist style, blending vivid coloration (evident in the riders' costumes and the landscape) with a dynamic, adventurous composition set against a backdrop of cloudy skies and rolling hills.

History & Provenance

Created in 1896, Heroes is now part of the permanent collection at the Tretyakov Gallery.

After prince Igor’s battle, Viktor Vasnetsov

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Artist & collection

Artist

Viktor Vasnetsov

Viktor Mikhaylovich Vasnetsov (Russian: Виктор Михайлович Васнецов; 15 May 1848 – 23 July 1926) was a Russian painter and draughtsman who specialised in mythological and historical subjects.