Portrait of Composer Cesar Antonovich Cui 1890

Ilya Repin painted this portrait of composer César Antonovich Cui, capturing him in his military attire. The uniform, with its striking red accents, serves as a potent symbol of Cui’s dual identity as both a celebrated musician and a military engineer. The color red, often associated with passion and vitality, also evokes strength and authority, linking Cui to a lineage of leaders and warriors throughout history. Think of the Roman emperors cloaked in purple-red, or Renaissance Cardinals adorned in scarlet robes. Here, red highlights Cui's energetic persona, contrasting with the somber gray of his jacket. It is a visual echo of the creative energy and intellectual rigor, binding Cui's artistic soul and disciplined profession in the portrait.