THE ZAPOROGUES COSSACKS WRITING A LETTER TO THE SULTAN OF TURKEY, 1880-1891 (oil on canvas)

(sketch) 1880//Oil on canvas Repin was very interested in the history of Ukraine, its native region, as well as its Cossack population, of which the Zaporogues were an independent, free and nomadic group. In the summer of 1878, the historian and philosopher Mstislav Prakhov introduced him to an insulting letter supposedly written in the 17th century to the Ottoman sultan Mohammed IV by Zaporogues Cossacks who refused to join his army. The painting evokes this episode. However, a good ten years will be necessary for the artist to document himself in Ukraine and carry it out.