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Student Artwork Guide

Angel with a lamp

Victor Vasnetsov, 1896

Name Class Date
Victor Vasnetsov, Angel with a lamp (1896). Public domain. See this canvas under a moving light: the drawing, the true colour under the varnish, the bare pigment

The facts

Artist
Victor Vasnetsov originaluniqueart.com/en/artists/victor-vasnetsov/
Artist’s dates
1848 – 1926
Painted
1896
Movement
Romanticism Art that puts feeling, wildness and the power of nature above calm order and rules.

Copyright This work is in the public domain. Victor Vasnetsov died in 1926; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it ended in 1996.

Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Oct. 9, 2026

Angel with a lamp — Victor Vasnetsov Part 1 · The artwork

In context

Angel with a lamp — Victor Vasnetsov

When was this painted?

  1. 1840
  2. 1850
  3. 1860
  4. 1870
  5. 1880
  6. 1890
  7. 1900
  8. 1910
  9. 1920

Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 78 at death.

Painted when the artist was 48. The artist lived to 78. 90 of the 140 dated works by this artist in our catalogue came earlier.

Shaded: the lifetime of Victor Vasnetsov (1848–1926) ▲ this work, 1896 every dated painting, decade by decade

First works: up to 1879 Main working years: 1879–1896 Late works: from 1896

Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell. The same years with the artist’s life laid along them

Compare with

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: originaluniqueart.com/en/art/similar/victor-vasnetsov-angel-with-a-lamp-8XZ4YW-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Putty #dec3a6

    Catalogued palette

    • #DEC3A6
    • #142533
    • #A7897D
    • #695E63

    These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour

    Palette
    Earthy The dominant colour family in the image.
    Main colour name
    Putty
    Intensity
    Balanced How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
    Contrast
    Statement How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
    Harmony
    Discordant Palette How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Bright How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Subtle Color How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

    Where in the world is this painting looked at?

    • under 1%
    • 1–3%
    • 3–8%
    • 8–20%
    • 20% and over
    This painting alone has too few recorded visitors to map, so the plate reads every work by Victor Vasnetsov over the last twelve months — 11 countries in all. Where these figures come from

    The ten leading countries

    1. 1 China 72.5%5,800 visits
    2. 2 United States of America 11.2%900 visits
    3. 3 Germany 3.8%300 visits
    4. 4 France 2.5%200 visits
    5. 5 Singapore 2.5%200 visits
    6. 6 Australia 1.2%100 visits
    7. 7 Spain 1.2%100 visits
    8. 8 Mexico 1.2%100 visits
    9. 9 Netherlands 1.2%100 visits
    10. 10 Russia 1.2%100 visits
    11. · 1 other countries 1.5%100 visits

    Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.

    The 20 most looked-at works by Victor Vasnetsov

    1. 1 Judgement Day, 1896 6.7%800 visits
    2. 2 Sirin and Alkonost The Birds of Joy and Sorrow, 1896 5.9%700 visits
    3. 3 The Last Judgement, 1904 5.0%600 visits
    4. 4 Christ Almighty, 1896 5.0%600 visits
    5. 5 Descent into Hell, 1904 3.4%400 visits
    6. 6 Ivan Tsarevich Riding the Grey Wolf 3.4%400 visits
    7. 7 Angel with a lamp, 1896 this painting 2.5%300 visits
    8. 8 Tree Bogatyrs. Detail 2.5%300 visits
    9. 9 The Snow Maiden 2.5%300 visits
    10. 10 Savior in the crown of thorns, 1906 1.7%200 visits
    11. 11 Russian Bishops, 1896 1.7%200 visits
    12. 12 Tea drinking in a Tavern, 1874 1.7%200 visits
    13. 13 Oleg meets wizard, 1899 1.7%200 visits
    14. 14 Four Horsemen of Apocalypse, 1887 1.7%200 visits
    15. 15 Shroud of Christ, 1901 1.7%200 visits
    16. 16 Prince Andrey Bogolyubsky, 1896 1.7%200 visits
    17. 17 The princess at the window (Princess Nesmeyana), 1920 1.7%200 visits
    18. 18 Portrait of Vera Savvishna Mammoth, 1896 1.7%200 visits
    19. 19 God of hosts, 1896 1.7%200 visits
    20. 20 Humpbacked Horse 1.7%200 visits

    Together these works take 55.6% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 229 works by this artist, of which 72 were looked at at least once. This painting ranks 7 of them, with 2.5% of that attention (300 visits). The same counts, month by month

    Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.

    Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Oct. 9, 2026

    Angel with a lamp — Victor Vasnetsov Part 2 · In context

    Artist and museum

    Artist

    Victor Vasnetsov

    Born in Yekaterinburg, Russia

    Viktor Vasnetsov: Life and Legacy

    Early Life and Education

    Born on May 12, 1848, in the village of Vyatka (now Kirov), Russia, Viktor Mikhaylovich Vasnetsov came from a family with strong ties to both religion and art.

    His father was a priest and an amateur painter, fostering Viktor’s early interest in visual arts.

    He initially pursued theological studies at the Vyatka Seminary but ultimately abandoned this path to dedicate himself to painting.

    Vasnetsov studied at the Imperial Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg, beginning in 1867, where he encountered and befriended other prominent Russian artists.

    Artistic Development and Influences

    Early works reflected realist tendencies, influenced by the Peredvizhniki (Wanderers) movement, focusing on scenes of peasant life.

    A pivotal shift occurred when Vasnetsov became captivated by Russian folklore, mythology, and historical epics – byliny.

    He drew inspiration from artists like Isaak Levitan and Ivan Aivazovsky, but forged a unique style blending realism with fantastical elements.

    His travels to Western Europe exposed him to various artistic styles, including Symbolism, which further shaped his aesthetic vision.

    Major Works and Themes

    Vasnetsov’s most celebrated paintings depict scenes from Russian fairy tales, folklore, and historical events.

    Notable works include: A Knight at the Crossroads, Bogatyrs (Three Warriors), Alyonushka, Ivan Tsarevich Riding the Grey Wolf, and his designs for St. Vladimir’s Cathedral in Kyiv.

    Recurring themes include heroism, spirituality, national identity, and the mystical power of nature.

    He often portrayed bogatyrs (epic heroes) as symbols of Russian strength and resilience.

    Historical Significance and Legacy

    Vasnetsov played a crucial role in the Russian Revivalist movement, which sought to rediscover and celebrate Russia’s cultural heritage.

    His work helped shape a national artistic identity and contributed to a renewed interest in Russian folklore and history.

    He bridged the gap between academic realism and Symbolism, creating a distinctive style that influenced subsequent generations of artists.

    Vasnetsov's designs for architectural projects, such as the facade of the Tretyakov Gallery, demonstrate his versatility and impact beyond painting.

    His art continues to resonate with audiences today, embodying the spirit and imagination of Russian culture.

    Later Life and Death

    Vasnetsov continued to create art throughout his life, experimenting with different media and styles.

    He remained a prominent figure in the Russian art world until his death on July 23, 1926, in Moscow.

    His legacy endures through his iconic paintings and his lasting contribution to Russian artistic heritage.

    Where to read more

    • The artist Victor Vasnetsov originaluniqueart.com/en/artists/victor-vasnetsov/
    • Similar works More works to compare originaluniqueart.com/en/art/similar/victor-vasnetsov-angel-with-a-lamp-8XZ4YW-en/

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for Angel with a lamp

    originaluniqueart.com/en/art/download/victor-vasnetsov-angel-with-a-lamp-8XZ4YW-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    Vasnetsov, Victor. Angel with a lamp. 1896, https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/victor-vasnetsov-angel-with-a-lamp-8XZ4YW-en/
    APA
    Vasnetsov, Victor (1896). Angel with a lamp [Painting]. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/victor-vasnetsov-angel-with-a-lamp-8XZ4YW-en/
    Chicago
    Victor Vasnetsov. Angel with a lamp. 1896. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/victor-vasnetsov-angel-with-a-lamp-8XZ4YW-en/
    Harvard
    Vasnetsov, Victor (1896) Angel with a lamp. Available at: https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/victor-vasnetsov-angel-with-a-lamp-8XZ4YW-en/

    Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Oct. 9, 2026

    Angel with a lamp — Victor Vasnetsov Part 3 · Artist and museum

    Look closely

    Angel with a lamp — Victor Vasnetsov

    Look closely

    Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

    1. What catches your eye first, and why?
    2. Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
    3. Our catalogue files this work under: angels, religious. Do you agree? What would you add, or take away?
    4. Look back at Christ Almighty (1896), earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.
    5. Romanticism: Art that puts feeling, wildness and the power of nature above calm order and rules. Where can you see that in this work?

    Your response

    Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

    Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Oct. 9, 2026

    Angel with a lamp — Victor Vasnetsov Part 4 · Look closely

    Questions & Answers

    Why is the copyright status of "Angel with a lamp" what it is?

    "Angel with a lamp" by Victor Vasnetsov is in the public domain - its copyright has expired. Copyright terms are measured from the artist's death, and Victor Vasnetsov died in 1926.

    What kind of colors does "Angel with a lamp" use?

    "Angel with a lamp" by Victor Vasnetsov uses an earthy color palette. The palette summarizes the work's overall color character.

    Where do the visitors of "Angel with a lamp" by Victor Vasnetsov come from?

    The Stats page of "Angel with a lamp" by Victor Vasnetsov presents public visit statistics: monthly visits of this artwork, a comparison with the artist's most viewed works, and where its visitors come from.