The damaged painting was completed by renowned Russian realist Ilya Repin in 1885 and was described by its curators on Monday as a masterpiece in the same league as the Mona Lisa. It would be harder to persuade a separate restaurant, accessible from both the gallery and the street, to stop selling alcohol, she said. The painting depicts Ivan cradling his son after dealing him a mortal blow. Some Russian historians and nationalists dispute the idea that Ivan murdered his son. It was a question of seconds,” she said, saying the gallery nonetheless planned to review security.

Source: New Strait Times May 28, 2018 15:56 UTC