Ivan the Terrible

“Svyatogor” Hard stone carving studio
2012

The contradictory interpretations of the Tsar’s personality and legacy are reflected in the image created by the artists. On the one hand, we see a static impersonation of unshakable power expressed in the cone-shaped marble pedestal with steps. This pyramid is crowned with a massive armchair carved from snow-white magnesite, a reproduction of the shape and decor of the real throne of Ivan the Terrible. The dramatic figure of the Tsar making a step down the stairs is the opposition to this structure. The image is filled with the Tsar’s passions and doubts, and was inspired by classical works of Russian art — paintings by Viktor Vasnetsov and Ilya Repin, and a sculptural portrait by Mark Antokolsky.

Ivan IV the Terrible, 1530 – 1584). The Grand Prince of Moscow since 1533, the Russian Tsar since 1547.

The Stone

The internal conflict is expressed even more clearly in the colours used in the composition. The attributes of power, the elevated pedestal and the throne on it are made in light colours, almost snow-white. The King’s garments are saturated with bright shades of red. The feriaz (along robe with sleeves that get narrower at the bottom) is carved from jaspillite, with an elegant stripe in red and bright ochre shades around the closure in the middle. Similar stripes on the sleeves create the effect of a fabric with a rich pattern. The okhaben (along caftan with freely hanging slitted sleeves) of bright “calico” jasper in bright red tones flung on over the feriaz helps to create a harmonious but tense composition. The emotions are emphasized by the fur coat made of flint carelessly dropped on the throne. Its dark mass “mutes” the clear white colour of the chair, increasing the dramatic effect.

Richard Chancellor
The Booke of the Great and Mighty Emperor of Russia, and Duke of Muscovia

As for the food served to the Grand Duke, it was served without any order, but the serving was very rich: everything was on vessels of gold, not only to the Emperor himself, but also to all of us, and the dishes were massive; the cups were also golden and very massive. The number of diners that day was about 200 people, and all were served on vessels and dishes of gold. The attending nobles were all dressed in gold garments and served the Tsar without taking off hats from their heads. Before the dishes were served, the Grand Duke sent everyone a large chunk of bread, and the attendant who was distributing the bread would call everyone to whom the chunk was sent out loud by the name and say, “Ivan Vasilievich, the Russian Tsar and the Grand Duke of Muskovia, bestows this bread upon you.” Everyone had to stand up and remain standing, while these words were being pronounced. After everyone received his chunk, he gave bread to the marshal; he ate it in front of His Grand Ducal Grace, bowed and left. Then the royal meal was carried in — swans cut into chunks; every swan was served in a separate dish. The Grand Duke sent them around in the same way as bread and the attendant said the same words as before.

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This Duke is the lord and king of many countries, and his power is amazingly great. He is able to send 200 or 300 thousand men on the battlefield, and if he himself leads the campaign, he leaves a considerable number of soldiers on all borders of his state.

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I saw the tents of His Majesty the King of England and the King of France, which are great, but not as great as the tent of the Grand Duke of Muscovia. And when the Russians are sent on a mission to distant foreign lands or when foreigners come to visit them, they receive them with great pomp. In other cases, the Grand Duke himself dresses in a very simple way, and when he does not travel from one place to another, he dresses a little better than usual.