Wife of the bearded archer (Etude for the picture morning of the execution of the Strelitz," 1881)"

This 1879 study of a bearded archer's wife was painted as preparatory research for "Morning of the Execution of the Streltsy," which Surikov would complete in 1881. The Streltsy, as a traditional military corps, had distinct dress and customs, and their wives and families would have accompanied them to the execution ground, their grief a significant element of the historical scene Surikov was planning. This study, now at the Ekaterinburg Museum of Fine Arts, represents Surikov's meticulous preparation: he sought out individuals whose faces and expressions matched the types he needed for the composition, and painted them in period-appropriate costume to understand how the historical clothing would behave and how the individuals would look within it. The full title as recorded indicates Surikov's own understanding of the work's preparatory role. Such studies demonstrate the depth of research that made his historical paintings so vivid and specific.

The study is focused on the female face and costume — Surikov needs to understand how the Strelitz wife's grief would read in combination with the historical dress. The face is rendered with the individual specificity that distinguishes his studies from generic academic exercises. The costume provides valuable research into how the period textiles drape and fold.