The painting’s subject is based on an episode from the Stories of a Soldier About Suvorov, the memoirs of Yakov Starkov, who served with the famous general, published in 1847. "Potyomkin, who did not expect to conquer Izmail," recalled the memoirist, "sent a command to Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov: ‘If it seems like taking Izmail is impossible, then leave.’ Suvorov answered: ‘My intentions are firmly decided; Russians have been at the gates of Izmail twice, and it would be shameful to retreat for a third time.’ And Izmail was taken 11 December 1790."