In the context of Ivan the Terrible and His Son Ivan, explore the Stories by Russian historians of the Subject of the painting and historiography.
18th-century Russian historian Nikolay Karamzin also believed the Tsarevich died because of his father but under different circumstances.
He (Ivan the Terrible) put his hand on him (Tsarevich). Boris Godunov wanted to come to his aid but the Tsar inflicted several wounds to him with the point of his sceptre and struck the Tsarevich with it on the head. He then fell to the ground, spilling his blood. The father's fury disappeared. Paling with fear, trembling, in complete shock, he exclaimed "I killed my son" and he threw himself down to kiss him; pouring out the blood flowing from a deep wound, he wept, sobbed, called for the doctors. He implored the mercy of God and the forgiveness of his son.
Repin relied on Karamzin's story to paint Ivan the Terrible and His Son Ivan on 16 November 1581, one of the most-striking paintings of his chrestomathy. Russian imperial historian Mikhail Shcherbatov, who studied the different versions of Ivan Ivanovich's death, considers Possevino's version the most plausible and the Russian imperial historian Vasily Klyuchevsky called it the only reliable version.
Nikolay Karamzin Russian chrestomathy Mikhail Shcherbatov Boris Godunov Vasily Klyuchevsky ru Ivan Ivanovich sceptre Tsarevich Ivan the Terrible Russia