Boyar of Ivan the Terrible

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Photograph by Dave Revette.
Boyar of Ivan the Terrible
Photograph by Dave Revette.
After (Russian, 1831 - 1905)
Foundry (Russian, 1842 – 1914)
Datec. 1893-1904 CE
MediumBronze
DimensionsOverall: 12 in. × 11 1/2 in. × 4 1/2 in. (30.5 × 29.2 × 11.4 cm)
Credit LineBequest of Philip W. Abell, Class of 1957
Object number1994.74
On view
DescriptionThis highly detailed equestrian bronze created by the Russian artist Vassili Grachev was made after a part of a larger composition titled Tsar’s Hunt or Hunt of Ivan the Terrible. Dressed in traditional Russian clothes, the rider is a boyar—a member of Russia’s old aristocracy next to the rank of prince—in the service of the Ivan the Terrible (1530–1584). This figure on horseback played a secondary role to the Tsar in the original composition. The complete version of the work was made in 1877, but copies of segments, such as this one, were produced between 1893 and 1904. The image of the Tsar’s hunt is based on a scene in the historical novel Prince Serebrenni (also known as The Silver Knight) published 1859–1861 by Aleksey Konstantinovich Tolstoy (1817–1875), in which falconers inform the Tsar that his favorite falcon has flown away.

Additional Details

Exhibition History 2024-2025
Clinton, NY. The Ruth and Elmer Wellin Museum of Art, Hamilton College. "Menagerie: Animals in Art from the Wellin Museum," September 7, 2024 –June 8, 2025 (no cat.).

2014
Clinton, NY. Ruth and Elmer Wellin Museum of Art, Hamilton College. "Find and Seek," September 2014 - August 28, 2015 (no catalog).

2012
Clinton, NY. Ruth and Elmer Wellin Museum of Art, Hamilton College. "Archive Hall: Art and Artifacts," October 6, 2012 - September 2014 (no catalog).

1994
Clinton, NY. Fred L. Emerson Gallery, Hamilton College. “A Discerning Eye: Philip W. Abell (1935-1993) A Memorial Exhibition”, September 23 – November 6, 1994 (brochure).
Provenance 1994: Hamilton College (Fred L. Emerson Gallery), by bequest of Philip Abell
Published References A DISCERNING EYE: PHILIP W. ABELL (1935-1993) A MEMORIAL EXHIBITION (brochure, Emerson Gallery, Hamilton College, September 23- November 6, 1994).
Signature Signed by incision in back of base: LEP. Grachev [in Cyrillic]; incised in side of base: FABR. C.F. WOERFFEL. / ST. PETERSBURG.
This artwork is in the public domain.
Date: c. 1909
Medium: Photolithograph
Object number: INV.380
'Still Hunt'-ing, from "Harper's Weekly"
Thomas Nast
Date: published September 23, 1876
Medium: Wood engraving on newsprint
Object number: 2019.13.339
Compote
Sèvres Manufactory
Date: 1846
Medium: Hard-paste porcelain, gilt bronze
Object number: 1992.43a-b
Luncheon Plate
Sèvres Manufactory
Date: 1838
Medium: Hard-paste porcelain
Object number: 1992.44
Photograph by Dave Revette.
Unknown artist, Roman (Ancient)
Date: c. 2nd century CE
Medium: Marble
Object number: 1986.7.1
Frontal view, Professional. Photograph by Dave Revette.
Unknown artist, Roman (Ancient)
Date: c. 2nd century CE
Medium: Marble
Object number: 1986.7.2
Not 'Love' but Justice, from "Harper's Weekly"
Thomas Nast
Date: published June 26, 1869
Medium: Wood engraving on newsprint
Object number: 2019.13.107
The Only Thing They Respect and Fear, from "Harper's Weekly"
Thomas Nast
Date: published October 21, 1871
Medium: Wood engraving on newsprint
Object number: 2019.13.149
The ‘Funny’ Little Boy in Trouble, from "Harper's Weekly"
Thomas Nast
Date: published November 28, 1874
Medium: Wood engraving on newsprint
Object number: 2019.13.262
Napoleon's 1812 Invasion of Russia
Charles Constantine Hoffbauer
Date: 1935-1938
Medium: Watercolor collage
Object number: INV.804
Image courtesy of the Ruth and Elmer Wellin Museum of Art at Hamilton College, Clinton, NY. Pho…
Ilse Bing
Date: June 8, 1937 (printed 1984)
Medium: Gelatin silver print
Object number: 2015.11.2