Battle between the Scythians and the Slavonians Viktor Vasnetsov (1848-1926)

Description of Victor Vasnetsov’s painting "Fight of the Scythians and the Slavs".

The artist Vasnetsov proved himself to be a remarkable master in depicting everyday scenes. He was also interested in the religious theme, and with it the motifs of folk tales. But this is not where the painter stopped in the skillful mastery of different genres. Genre-historical direction covers the period of Vasnetsov’s work from 1880 until the end of the 1890s.

"Fight of the Scythians and the Slavs" - the work of Russian artist in 1881.

Quite a large canvas on the bogatyr theme, painted with a characteristic sweep, but with some historical inaccuracies. In fact, the Scythians lived centuries before the Slavs. But this fact was not known in the 19th century. In the image of the Scythians the artist paints steppe nomads, who periodically attacked the Slavic possessions.

The painting’s dynamic plot shows the battle in full swing. A Russian knight on a raven horse is swinging his bogatyr weapons at his furious enemy. A wild nomad on a red horse raises a long spear above him. The clash of riders makes one freeze in anticipation of the battle’s outcome.

The differences in the uniforms of the opponents catch the eye. The Slavs are dressed in quality steel armor like glorious warriors. The nomads are clearly lagging behind - they wear common shirts and carry the simplest of weapons.

The skirmish took place in the middle of the steppe of the Dnieper lands. The high grass goes far beyond the horizon. The troubled sky above the heroes is covered in a purple haze. The oppressive atmosphere of impending battle is conveyed with amazing accuracy and deep emotionality.

Vasnetsov in his byliny pictures is in search of lost primordial Russia.

Images of strong valiant heroes inspire the Russian explorer. "Fight of the Scythians with the Slavs" exposes the unwavering spirit of the Slavs in battle with savage invaders.

The painting with the image of the struggle of Russia "with the steppe" can be seen in St. Petersburg - in Hall 38 of the Russian Museum.