Sketch for the painting Ceremonial Meeting of the State Council on May 7, 1901 1903

This sketch by Ilya Repin is a preliminary study for his famous painting "Ceremonial Meeting of the State Council on May 7, 1901". The oil-on-canvas depicts a single figure, likely a high-ranking official in the Russian government, seated and dressed in a formal military uniform adorned with medals and sashes. The loose brushstrokes and visible underpainting characteristic of sketches reveal Repin's process of capturing the individual's posture and expression. The sketch's intimate scale and unfinished nature contrast with the monumental scale and polished detail of the final painting, highlighting the artist's meticulous planning and masterful execution.