Portrait of Viktor Vasnetsov

Meet the 100 Most Famous Paintings by Viktor Vasnetsov

Updated oktober 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 234 works by Viktor Vasnetsov in our catalogue

In short

If you know one Viktor Vasnetsov painting, it's probably Bogatyrs (1881), which hangs in the Tretyakov Gallery, Moskou. A Knight At the Crossroads (1878) and Christ Almighty (1896) round out the three pieces people recognise right away. Our catalogue has 234 works by Viktor Vasnetsov. Below are the 100 people know best, each with its year, where to find it and what makes it special.

1848 – 1926, Jekaterinburg Realism Most works: Tretyakov Gallery

Start here: the top 10 Viktor Vasnetsov paintings

1
Bogatyrs (1881) by Viktor Vasnetsov

Bogatyrs

1881 · Olieverf op canvas · Tretyakov Gallery, Moskou

Het monumentale canvas met de titel Bogatyrs (Helden) ontstaat uit de penseelstreek van Viktor Vasnetsov, een werk dat gedurende een lange creatieve periode van 1881 tot 1898 vorm kreeg. Binnen deze uitgestrekte scène rijden drie edele krijgers van de Kievse Rus door het landschap, waarbij hun aanwezigheid de ruimte om hen heen opeist. Ze bevinden zich in een moment van stille kracht, verschijnend als de bewakers van een legendarisch verleden.…

2
A Knight At the Crossroads (1878) by Viktor Vasnetsov

A Knight At the Crossroads

1878 · Oil On Canvas · De Staats Russische Museum, Sint-Petersburg

A Knight At the Crossroads is a painting by Viktor Vasnetsov. Created in 1878, the work captures a solitary figure at a point of decision. The knight sits upon a white horse, frozen in a moment of quiet contemplation amidst the vastness of the landscape. It is a scene of stillness and heavy choice.

3
Christ Almighty (1896) by Viktor Vasnetsov

Christ Almighty

1896 · Oil

In the painting Christ Almighty by Viktor Vasnetsov, the central figure of Jesus is positioned amidst a celestial landscape. He stands upon a foundation of clouds, holding a book in his hand. His gaze is directed upward toward the sky, a posture that suggests a state of contemplation or wonder. The composition places him within a setting defined by celestial elements, including clouds and stars, which surround the figure to…

4
Judgement Day (1896) by Viktor Vasnetsov

Judgement Day

1896 · Fresco

Within the sacred walls of St. Vladimir's Cathedral in Kiev, Ukraine, the fresco Judgement Day unfolds in a grand display of spiritual narrative. This religious painting, created by the artist Viktor Vasnetsov, captures a moment of profound divine reckoning. The work emerges from a long period of creation, spanning from 1885 to 1896, as the artist poured his vision into the very architecture of the cathedral. One can feel the…

5
Sirin and Alkonost The Birds of Joy and Sorrow (1896) by Viktor Vasnetsov

Sirin and Alkonost The Birds of Joy and Sorrow

1896 · Oil On Canvas

We are looking at Sirin and Alkonost The Birds of Joy and Sorrow, a significant work by the Russian artist Viktor Vasnetsov. Painted in 1896, this piece captures a specific moment in the artist's exploration of folklore and myth. It is an oil on canvas, rendered with a scale that commands the space it occupies.

6
Boyan (1910) by Viktor Vasnetsov

Boyan

1910 · Oil

In this work, titled Boyan, we encounter a significant piece by the Russian artist Viktor Vasnetsov. Created in 1910, the painting belongs to the Romanticism style, a movement that often sought to find meaning within the depths of myth and history. Vasnetsov, a figure central to the Russian Revivalist movement, brings a specific sense of national identity to this composition through his unique approach to historical and mythological subjects.

7
The Last Judgement (1904) by Viktor Vasnetsov

The Last Judgement

1904 · Oil On Canvas

The Last Judgement is a significant work by the Russian artist Viktor Vasnetsov. Painted in 1904, this piece reflects a profound engagement with religious narrative and spiritual themes. It was commissioned by Yu. S. Nechayev-Maltsev, a patron who sought to bring this complex theological vision to life through the medium of oil on canvas.

8
Descent into Hell (1904) by Viktor Vasnetsov

Descent into Hell

1904 · Oil

The air feels heavy, thick with the scent of earth and the weight of an eternal transition. At the center of this swirling darkness, a figure moves with a quiet, divine purpose. He is a man with long hair and a beard, his presence marked by a soft halo that cuts through the gloom. He wears a simple robe, and in his hand, he carries a book or a scroll,…

10
Acrobats (Festival in a Paris Suburb) (1877) by Viktor Vasnetsov

Acrobats (Festival in a Paris Suburb)

1877 · Oil On Canvas

In the heart of a bustling Parisian suburb, amidst the flickering glow of gaslight and the scent of sawdust, Victor Vasnetsov captures a moment of breathless intensity in his masterpiece, Acrobats (Festival in a Paris Suburb). This 1877 oil painting is not merely a depiction of a circus; it is a visceral immersion into a world of movement, drama, and human emotion. The composition pulls the viewer directly into the…

More Viktor Vasnetsov favourites, 11 to 100

11Shroud of Christ (1901) by Viktor VasnetsovShroud of Christ1901 12Ivan Zarevitsh (1880) by Viktor VasnetsovIvan Zarevitsh1880 · Finnish National Gallery 13At a Bookseller shop (1876) by Viktor VasnetsovAt a Bookseller shop1876 14Seraphim (1896) by Viktor VasnetsovSeraphim1896 15Angel with a lamp (1896) by Viktor VasnetsovAngel with a lamp1896 16Oleg meets wizard (1899) by Viktor VasnetsovOleg meets wizard1899 17Flying carpet (1926) by Viktor VasnetsovFlying carpet1926 18Pharmacist (1871) by Viktor VasnetsovPharmacist1871 19Brousov Calendar (1871) by Viktor VasnetsovBrousov Calendar1871 20Grave digger (1871) by Viktor VasnetsovGrave digger1871 21Russian proverbs and sayings (1867) by Viktor VasnetsovRussian proverbs and sayings1867 22Portrait of M.V. Vasnetsov (1870) by Viktor VasnetsovPortrait of M.V. Vasnetsov1870 23Porters (1870) by Viktor VasnetsovPorters1870 24Russian proverbs and sayings (1867) by Viktor VasnetsovRussian proverbs and sayings1867 25Reaper (1867) by Viktor VasnetsovReaper1867 26Portrait of Appolinary Vasnetsov (1872) by Viktor VasnetsovPortrait of Appolinary Vasnetsov1872 27The farmer at the table (1877) by Viktor VasnetsovThe farmer at the table1877 28The head of the peasant (1878) by Viktor VasnetsovThe head of the peasant1878 29Portrait of V. Vasnetsov the Artist's Wife (1878) by Viktor VasnetsovPortrait of V. Vasnetsov the Artist's Wife1878 30News from the Front (1878) by Viktor VasnetsovNews from the Front1878 31Fallen Knight (1879) by Viktor VasnetsovFallen Knight1879 32In a suit buffoon (1882) by Viktor VasnetsovIn a suit buffoon1882 33Portrait of Tatjana A. Mamontowa (1884) by Viktor VasnetsovPortrait of Tatjana A. Mamontowa1884 34Virgin and Child by Viktor VasnetsovVirgin and Child 35Snegurochka and Lel (1886) by Viktor VasnetsovSnegurochka and Lel1886 36Mounted knights (1896) by Viktor VasnetsovMounted knights1896 37Nestor the Chronicler (1893) by Viktor VasnetsovNestor the Chronicler1893 38Ivan Tsarevich and the Swan (1901) by Viktor VasnetsovIvan Tsarevich and the Swan1901 39M.I. Ryazantseva (1901) by Viktor VasnetsovM.I. Ryazantseva1901 40The Lake (1902) by Viktor VasnetsovThe Lake1902 41Portrait of Mikhail Nesterov (1926) by Viktor VasnetsovPortrait of Mikhail Nesterov1926 42The Unsmiling Tsarevna (1926) by Viktor VasnetsovThe Unsmiling Tsarevna1926 43The Snow Maiden by Viktor VasnetsovThe Snow Maiden 44A Knight at the Crossroads (1878) by Viktor VasnetsovA Knight at the Crossroads1878 45Sketches of ornaments painted Vladimir Cathedral (1893) by Viktor VasnetsovSketches of ornaments painted Vladimir Cathedral1893 46Lull (1881) by Viktor VasnetsovLull1881 47Alionushka by Viktor VasnetsovAlionushka 48Dressed as a Buffoon by Viktor VasnetsovDressed as a Buffoon 49Russian Bishops (1896) by Viktor VasnetsovRussian Bishops1896 50Away (1871) by Viktor VasnetsovAway1871 51Girl with a bast basket (1870) by Viktor VasnetsovGirl with a bast basket1870 52Merchant family in the theater (1869) by Viktor VasnetsovMerchant family in the theater1869 53Portrait of the Artist Arkhip Kuinji (1869) by Viktor VasnetsovPortrait of the Artist Arkhip Kuinji1869 54Playmates (1878) by Viktor VasnetsovPlaymates1878 55From Dominik (1874) by Viktor VasnetsovFrom Dominik1874 56Vyatka River (1878) by Viktor VasnetsovVyatka River1878 57Portrait of the Artist AM Vasnetsov (1878) by Viktor VasnetsovPortrait of the Artist AM Vasnetsov1878 58Acrobats (On a holiday near Paris) (1877) by Viktor VasnetsovAcrobats (On a holiday near Paris)1877 59Beggars singer (Pilgrims) (1873) by Viktor VasnetsovBeggars singer (Pilgrims)1873 60The farmer with a sixth (study) (1877) by Viktor VasnetsovThe farmer with a sixth (study)1877 61Self portrait (1873) by Viktor VasnetsovSelf portrait1873 62News of the capture of Kars (1878) by Viktor VasnetsovNews of the capture of Kars1878 63Spring (1882) by Viktor VasnetsovSpring1882 64Mizgir (1885) by Viktor VasnetsovMizgir1885 65For water (1880) by Viktor VasnetsovFor water1880 66Landscape under Abramtzevo (1881) by Viktor VasnetsovLandscape under Abramtzevo1881 67Ochtir (1879) by Viktor VasnetsovOchtir1879 68Alyonushka (1880) by Viktor VasnetsovAlyonushka1880 69Kupava (1885) by Viktor VasnetsovKupava1885 70Prologue (1885) by Viktor VasnetsovPrologue1885 71Underwater tower (1884) by Viktor VasnetsovUnderwater tower1884 72Portrait of Natalia Anatolevna Mammoth (1883) by Viktor VasnetsovPortrait of Natalia Anatolevna Mammoth1883 73Portrait of sculptor Mark Matveevitch Antokolsky (1884) by Viktor VasnetsovPortrait of sculptor Mark Matveevitch Antokolsky1884 74Alenushka (1881) by Viktor VasnetsovAlenushka1881 75Bayan (sketch) (1880) by Viktor VasnetsovBayan (sketch)1880 76Wise King Berendey (1885) by Viktor VasnetsovWise King Berendey1885 77Maiden (1885) by Viktor VasnetsovMaiden1885 78Timber and Berendeys guys (1885) by Viktor VasnetsovTimber and Berendeys guys1885 79Oak Grove at Abramtsevo (1883) by Viktor VasnetsovOak Grove at Abramtsevo1883 80Edge of the spruce forest (1881) by Viktor VasnetsovEdge of the spruce forest1881 81Three princess of the Underworld (1884) by Viktor VasnetsovThree princess of the Underworld1884 · Kiev National Picture Gallery 82Jesters (1885) by Viktor VasnetsovJesters1885 83Vesna Krasna (1885) by Viktor VasnetsovVesna Krasna1885 84Nina Slobodka Berendeevka (1885) by Viktor VasnetsovNina Slobodka Berendeevka1885 85Portrait of V. Mamontova (1884) by Viktor VasnetsovPortrait of V. Mamontova1884 86Portrait of the artist Nikolai Kuznetsov (1884) by Viktor VasnetsovPortrait of the artist Nikolai Kuznetsov1884 87Solitary and Bobylikha (1885) by Viktor VasnetsovSolitary and Bobylikha1885 88St. Sergiy Radonezhskiy (1882) by Viktor VasnetsovSt. Sergiy Radonezhskiy1882 89Alyonushka(study) (1881) by Viktor VasnetsovAlyonushka(study)1881 90Sedge (1880) by Viktor VasnetsovSedge1880 91Ded Moroz (1885) by Viktor VasnetsovDed Moroz1885 92Berendeyki (1885) by Viktor VasnetsovBerendeyki1885 93The Vorya River (1880) by Viktor VasnetsovThe Vorya River1880 94A Game of Preference (1879) by Viktor VasnetsovA Game of Preference1879 95Pond in Ochtir (1880) by Viktor VasnetsovPond in Ochtir1880 96Pond in Akhtyrka (1880) by Viktor VasnetsovPond in Akhtyrka1880 97Three Tsarevnas of the Underground Kingdom (1879) by Viktor VasnetsovThree Tsarevnas of the Underground Kingdom1879 98Portrait of Boris Vasnetsov, son of the artist (1889) by Viktor VasnetsovPortrait of Boris Vasnetsov, son of the artist1889 99Baptism of Prince Vladimir (1890) by Viktor VasnetsovBaptism of Prince Vladimir1890 100Princess Olga (1893) by Viktor VasnetsovPrincess Olga1893

What Viktor Vasnetsov painted most

The four subjects that come up most often in these pieces, each with its best-known example.

Where you can see Viktor Vasnetsov's paintings

The 4 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.

Museum City Works by Viktor Vasnetsov Paintings from this list
Tretyakov Gallery, MoskouTretyakov Gallery Moskou 8 Bogatyrs
De Staats Russische Museum, Sint-PetersburgDe Staats Russische Museum Sint-Petersburg 2 A Knight At the Crossroads
Kiev National Picture Gallery, KyivKiev National Picture Gallery Kyiv 2 Three princess of the Underworld
Finnish National Gallery, HelsinkiFinnish National Gallery Helsinki 1 Ivan Zarevitsh

Viktor Vasnetsov decade by decade: one standout piece each

Works per decade

Pick a decade to see its standout piece.

Your questions about Viktor Vasnetsov's paintings

Which Viktor Vasnetsov painting is the most famous?See the answer

Top of the list is Bogatyrs (1881), Tretyakov Gallery, Moskou. Right behind it: A Knight At the Crossroads (1878) and Christ Almighty (1896).

How old was Viktor Vasnetsov when Bogatyrs was made?See the answer

33 years old. Viktor Vasnetsov was born in 1848, and Bogatyrs dates from 1881.

What are the 10 best-known Viktor Vasnetsov paintings?See the answer

Bogatyrs, A Knight At the Crossroads, Christ Almighty, Judgement Day, Sirin and Alkonost The Birds of Joy and Sorrow, Boyan, The Last Judgement, Descent into Hell, God of hosts and Acrobats (Festival in a Paris Suburb). You'll find the year and the museum of each in the list above.

How many paintings did Viktor Vasnetsov create?See the answer

We have 234 works by Viktor Vasnetsov in our catalogue, dated 1867 to 1926.

Where can you see Viktor Vasnetsov's famous paintings?See the answer

You'll find most of them in Tretyakov Gallery (Moskou), De Staats Russische Museum (Sint-Petersburg) and Kiev National Picture Gallery (Kyiv). The museum list above has the full breakdown.

When did Viktor Vasnetsov paint the best-known pieces?See the answer

In 1880s, more than any other time: 39 of the 100 pieces on this page date from then, Bogatyrs among them.

Which famous Viktor Vasnetsov paintings came first and last?See the answer

The earliest piece here is Russian proverbs and sayings (1867); the most recent is Flying carpet (1926).

What subjects show up most in Viktor Vasnetsov's paintings?See the answer

Men (18), Women (16) and Portraits (14), out of the 100 pieces on this page.

What materials did Viktor Vasnetsov paint with most?See the answer

Oil On Canvas, used in 5 of the 100 pieces on this page.

What art movement was Viktor Vasnetsov part of?See the answer

Realism, as you can see in the pieces on this page.

Can I get a reproduction of a Viktor Vasnetsov painting?See the answer

Yes. Every painting on this page is available as a hand-painted oil reproduction or a print, in the size that suits you. Just open the painting's page to order.

Getting to know Viktor Vasnetsov

Viktor Vasnetsov: Leven en Nalatenschap

Vroege Jaren en Opleiding

  • Geboren op 12 mei 1848 in het dorp Vyatka (nu Kirov), Rusland, kwam Viktor Mikhaylovich Vasnetsov uit een familie met diepe wortels in zowel de religie als de kunst.
  • Zijn vader was een priester en een amateurkunstenaar, wat de vroege interesse van Viktor in de beeldende kunsten aanwakkerde.
  • Hoewel hij aanvankelijk een theologische studie volgde aan het seminarie van Vyatka, verliet hij uiteindelijk dit pad om zich volledig aan de schilderkunst te wijden.
  • Vanaf 1867 studeerde Vasnetsov aan de Keizerlijke Academie van Beeldende Kunsten in Sint-Petersburg, waar hij kennismaakte met en vriendschappen sloot met andere vooraanstaande Russische kunstenaars.

Artistieke Ontwikkeling en Invloeden

  • Zijn vroege werken weerspiegelden realistische tendensen, beïnvloed door de Peredvizhniki (Wanderers) beweging, met een focus op scènes uit het boerenleven.
  • Een cruciale wending vond plaats toen Vasnetsov gefascineerd raakte door de Russische folklore, mythologie en historische epen – de byliny.
  • Hij putte inspiratie uit kunstenaars zoals Isaak Levitan en Ivan Aivazovsky, maar smeedde een unieke stijl die realisme verbond met fantastische elementen.
  • Zijn reizen naar West-Europa boden hem blootstelling aan diverse artistieke stromingen, waaronder het Symbolisme, wat zijn esthetische visie verder vormgaf.

Belangrijke Werken en Thema's

    De meest gevierde schilderijen van Vasnetsov verbeelden scènes uit Russische sprookjes, folklore en historische gebeurtenheden.
  • Opmerkelijke werken zijn onder meer: A Knight at the Crossroads, Bogatyrs (Drie krijgers), Alyonushka, Ivan Tsarevich Riding the Grey Wolf, en zijn ontwerpen voor de Sint-Vladimirkathedraal in Kyiv.
  • Terugkerende thema's zijn heldendom, spiritualiteit, nationale identiteit en de mystieke kracht van de natuur.
  • Hij portretteerde vaak bogatyrs (epische helden) als symbolen van Russische kracht en veerkracht.

Historisch Belang en Nalatenschap

    Vasnetsov speelde een cruciale rol in de Russische Revivalistische beweging, die streefde naar het herontdekken en vieren van het culturele erfgoed van Rusland.
  • Zijn werk hielp bij het vormgeven van een nationale artistieke identiteit en droeg bij aan een hernieuwde belangstelling voor de Russische folklore en geschiedenis.
  • Hij overbrugde de kloof tussen academisch realisme en Symbolisme, waarmee hij een onderscheidende stijl creëerde die latere generaties kunstenaars zou beïnvloeden.
  • De ontwerpen van Vasnetsov voor architectonische projecten, zoals de façade van de Tretyakov Gallery, getuigen van zijn veelzijdigheid en impact die verder reikte dan de schilderkunst alleen.
  • Zijn kunst blijft tot op de dag van vandaag resoneren bij het publiek, als belichaming van de geest en de verbeelding van de Russische cultuur.

Latere Jaren en Overlijden

    Vasnetsov bleef gedurende zijn hele leven kunst creëren, waarbij hij experimenteerde met verschillende media en stijlen.
  • Hij bleef een prominente figuur in de Russische kunstwereld tot aan zijn dood op 23 juli 1926 in Moskou.
  • Zijn nalatenschap leeft voort via zijn iconische schilderijen en zijn blijvende bijdrage aan het Russische artistieke erfgoed.

All 234 works by Viktor Vasnetsov →