Sadko
Ilya Repin · 1876
Why it's great
A merchant, Sadko, is walking along the sea bottom in a magical underwater kingdom, as the Sea King's daughters parade past in dresses. It's based on a Russian folk tale, which inspired an opera, too. Repin painted the sea princesses with different faces from many nations. It's a fairy tale full of beauty.
👀 Look closer!
Sadko walks along the seabed. Which creature would you ask for directions?
Where to see it
📍 Russian MuseumSaint Petersburg, Russia
Open in Maps ↗ About this museum →Hang it on your wall
Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:
These links open search results on each shop's own website; we don't sell anything or earn a commission, and print quality varies by seller. Ask a grown-up before you buy anything.
Ilya Repin was born in a small town in Ukraine, then part of the Russian Empire. He trained in Saint Petersburg and traveled to Paris before becoming Russia's most celebrated realist painter. He lived much of his later life in a country house near the Finnish border, now a museum. His huge paintings of people, history, and ordinary life made him a national treasure.
