Exit of Patriarch Hermogenes 1881

Ilya Repin's 1881 "Exit of Patriarch Hermogenes" depicts a dramatic moment in Russian history. The painting, now housed in the Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow, captures the somber procession of Patriarch Hermogenes, a prominent figure in the Russian Orthodox Church, as he is led away by guards. Repin’s use of dark, muted tones emphasizes the solemnity of the event, with the patriarch's yellow robe and the glowing candle providing the only highlights in the shadowy scene. The painting serves as a powerful reminder of the historical conflict between the church and the state in Russia.