Murder of Alexander II on 1 March 1881

SILAYEV, M. P.

Artist of the second half of the 19th century

Murder of Alexander II on 1 March 1881

1880s

oil on canvas. 59,1 х 72,5
Ж-11916
Received in 1997 from I. D. Ivanesyan, St Petersburg

Period Late 19th century
CategoryHistory Painting
Keywords The Epoch of Alexander II (1855-1881) | The Rulers of the Russian Empire | The Romanovs | Emperors | Peasants | Children | Aristocrats | головные уборы | male costume | St. Petersburg – Petrograd – Leningrad | Weapon
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At around 2:25 pm on 1 March 1881 on the Catherine Canal Embankment in St Petersburg, Ivan Grinevitsky of the People’s Will threw a bomb under the feet of Alexander II, who was mortally wounded. This explosion thundered not only throughout all of Russia, but throughout the entire world, which was struck by the villainous murder of the emperor and liberator. The artist depicted the moment of confusion that arose immediately after the bombing. The injured emperor, who is already losing strength, is surrounded by a confused and frightened crowd of courtiers and passersby. On the railing of the Catherine Canal lie passersby killed or injured by shrapnel. The assassination occurred when the emperor was returning after troop formations at the Mikhailovsky Manege and tea with Grand Duchess Catherine Mikhailovna at the Mikhailovsky Palace. Alexander II died the same day at 3:35 pm in the Winter Palace.

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