Doors of Timur (Tamerlane) Vasily Vereshchagin (1842-1904)

Description of Vasily Vereshchagin’s painting The Doors of Timur (Tamerlane)

The painting was painted in oil on canvas in 1873.

Vasily Vereshchagin was an artist who painted many canvases on the subject of the East, thus gaining great popularity among artists.

His paintings help us go back to that difficult time. Exquisite clothes, heavy and sturdy doors, weapons in the form of arrows and bows give us a little insight into how the people of the East lived hundreds of years ago.

Vereshchagin’s paintings have always amazed not only ordinary people, but also famous artists, because he like no one else could describe the details, the mentality, the history of events.

Tamerlane was a great conqueror, who in his deeds was similar to Genghis Khan, but differed from him even more bloodthirsty, and considerable intelligence. Timur knew more than one language, liked to communicate with elders, knew the Koran completely. His conquests were enormous, he made the city of Samarkand his capital. As it is written in ancient books, he put a curse on those who disturbed his peace. On his tomb was written that whoever opens it, that awaits a bloody war.

In 1941 the prophecy came true for our country. The day before the outbreak of World War II, June 21, the tomb was opened by our scientists. After the decision was made to seal Tamerlane’s chambers in 1942, there was a turning point for our country. Russia began to win battles and won the war.

These events greatly influenced Vereshchagin, he devoted his painting to this subject. And the canvas he succeeded as no one else. How skillfully he conveyed the decoration carving of the doors of the past centuries, accurately painted the clothes. You can see by their volume, how hard it was to wear all this under the scorching sun of the East.

All the colors chosen by the artist are very accurate. After all, the East has always been distinguished by its color. The guards on the canvas are staring into the heavy, luxurious doors, waiting for their great master. Centuries later we can remember the events of those days, learn about history, reflect on life.

The painting is kept in the Tretyakov Gallery. Moscow.