I.Y. Repin’s parents had seven children. Two of them became their pride: Ilya rose to fame as a great painter, while Vasily (1853-1918) devoted his life to music. The 9-year age difference between the brothers is significant. Repin had love, attention and care for Vasily. In 1863, 19-year-old Ilya left for Petersburg to enter the Academy of Arts; Vasya had an inquiring mind, but his particular interest lay in music. He was also a patient sitter for his brother-artist. There are several drawings depicting Vasya, and on his second holiday visit, in 1867, Ilya painted a wonderful portrait of his fourteen-year-old teenage brother. After studying at the Conservatory, Vasily Repin was invited to the orchestra of the Imperial Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, where he played wind instruments – bassoon, oboe, and flute. He later returned to the Conservatory as an oboe teacher.
State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow