Boyarina Morozova

Vasily Surikov executed this epic 1887 canvas depicting Feodosia Morozova being taken to her death. The noblewoman raises two fingers in the old blessing, defying the church reforms she opposed. A crowd of onlookers reacts with varied emotions.

The massive painting measures 304 × 587.5 cm in oil on canvas. Surikov spent years researching this moment from Russian history. The work dominates a wall at the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow.