Ilya Repin's Religious Procession in Kursk Gubernia…

Ilya Repin's Religious Procession in Kursk Gubernia is a continuation of Repin's social commentary in his work, devoted to the depiction of episodes from Russian history, and highlights perceived abuses by both church and state.

Tha painting leads to controversy when first exhibited, due to the icon being held by a man who appears to be drunk.

Completed between 1880 and 1883, Religious Procession (The Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow, Russia), the work shows a seething, huddled mass attending the annual religious procession (crucession) carrying the famous icon Our Lady of Kursk from its home at the Korennaya Monastery to the nearby city of Kursk in western Russia.

The procession is led through a dusty landscape by robed, Orthodox priests holding icons, festoons and banners over their heads.

Behind them follow a crowd mostly of peasants, but ranging from beggars and cripples, police and military officers to figures from the provincial elite.