Ilya Repin (1844 to 1930) was a gifted Russian artist. He specialized in realism paintings. The subjects in his art tended to be commoners and peasants often in historic settings. One of his famous works can be found in Room 35 of the Russian Museum in Saint Petersburg. “Demonstration 17 October 1905” illustrates people’s celebration after Nicholas II reluctantly signed the October Manifesto. The act granted the population basic civil liberties and formed a new legislative body called the Duma. The painting was created in 1911.