Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910) liked to portray people in his novels and, in turn, apparently didn't seem to mind being portrayed by some of Russia's best-known artists.

Those artists included Nikolai Ge (1831-94), Ivan Kramskoy (1837-87), Ilya Repin (1844-1930) and Mikhail Nesterov (1862-1942). Repin painted several portraits of the famed writer.

Unlike a beautiful woman in her simplicity, Tolstoy as he aged presented a feast of details to tempt the skills of portrait painters -- a craggy face, a bifurcated beard, rugged hands, peasant costuming and other paintable features of his persona. Below are some photographs and paintings of him.

Gallery

[Image]Photo - c.1897

[Image]Photo - 1908

[Image]By Ivan Kramskoy - 1873

[Image]By Nikolai Ge - 1884

[Image]By Ilya Repin - 1887

[Image]By Ilya Repin - 1891

[Image]By Ilya Repin: Tolstoy and his wife in Yasnaya Polyana - 1907

[Image]By Mikhail Nesterov - 1907