Peter the Great Interrogating the Tsarevich Alexei Petrovich at Peterhof
Nikolai Ge · 1871
Why it's great
The tsar Peter the Great sits in a room with his son, as the young man looks away, in a tense face-off. Ge painted the story of a ruler who had to decide between a father's feelings and the good of the state. It was a huge sensation in Russia. It's a great psychological drama.
🏛️ Part of history
Peter the Great & Russia Turns West (1682–1725) — Peter the Great confronts his own son, who fled abroad, in one of the most dramatic scenes of Russian history painting.
Where to see it
📍 State Tretyakov GalleryMoscow, Russia
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Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:
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Nikolai Ge was born in Voronezh, Russia, and studied in Saint Petersburg and Italy. He painted powerful scenes from history and religion with dramatic light and strong emotion. Later in life he lived on a farm in Ukraine. He died in 1894.
