A close look at Christian Art,
Architecture, Literature,
performance and visual arts in
Russia
Mrs. Miranda
Academic Decathlon 2012
Vladimir I
Ruler of Early Russia “ Kievan Rus”
Converted the state from Pagan to
Christianity in 988.
Chose Christianity over three other
Major religions possibly due to the
Beauty of the byzantine Churches and
The wonderfully ornate Christian Artwork.
Married Byzantine Princess Anna .
“Yaroslav the Wise” Founded the
Cathedral of St. Sophia. This
Monument in Kiev shows him
holding
the Cathedral In his hands.
The Cathedral was intended as a
burial Place for himself and other
important leaders and their
families in Kievan Rus
.
Exterior view of St. Sophia Cathedral in Kiev
9 Isle Plan and 13 Cupolas or Domes
Decorated lavishly with Mosaics and Frescos
Heavily influenced by Byzantine Architecture
Located in the Cathedral Central
Dome is the “Christ Pantocrator”
The glittery gold field of the
Of the background is a depiction
Of the glory of heaven.
The 4 archangels are dressed in
The style worn by members of the
Imperial byzantine court.
Byzantine artists were masters in
The a process called Mosaic.
This is a method of laying tiny tiles
made from cut glass and gold leaf
Carefully put together to create an
Image. The tiny pieces are
Referred to as Tesserae.
Mosaics are typically known for
The vivid colors and durability.
This dome interior is the most
Common representation of the
Orthodox church.
Christ in Glory Icon 1470-99
Located on the Iconostasis (icon screen)
In the Cathedral of Annunciation in moscow.
A perfect example of an icon painting that
Represents the strong influence of
Byzantine art on Russian traditions.
An Icon Painting is Image of a religious figure
intended for spiritual contemplation.
The following are Characteristics of icon
paintings that are heavily influenced by
byzantine art, but also took on a unique look
connected to the region ( Novgrod, Russia).
The use of Yellow ochre, the heavy lines that
sometimes flatten the image instead creating
depth and the elongation of the figure are
typical of the Russian/Byzantine influenced
Icon Painting.
“Christ in Glory” Icon painting located
In center of the Iconostasis inside the
St. Sophia Cathedral.
Iconostasis:
Floor to ceiling partition with many
Icon paintings for spiritual
Contemplation.
“Cathedral of St. Vasiy the Blessed in Mascow”
AKA St. Basils Cathedral.
UNIQUELY RUSSIAN
Survived Stalin’s Plans to Demolish in 20th century.
The church was constructed in commemoration of
“Ivan the terrible’s” victory over the tartars at
Kazan.
Significant because it is a symbol of the beginning
of the unified and expansive Russia.
Constructed of numerous churches joined together
around a central cathedral.
Little is known about the buildings Russian
architects Postnik and Barma.
Later building in Russia would show a popular
Trend towards European architecture, this is one
Building that is unique to Russian Architectural
style.
Church of Ascention in Kolomenskoe
(1530-32)
possibly a direct influence on the
Design and construction of the
Cathedral of St. Vasily.
St. Isaacs Cathedral St. Petersburg 1880
NOT SO UNIQUELY RUSSIAN
Instead more Western influence
In comparison to
the Cathedral of St. Vasily
Resulting in a more popular St
Petersburg, competing with Moscow.
Located in St. Isaacs square a lively
area within St. Petersburg.
A political shift of power occurs due
To the modernization and “western
look” of the St. Petersburg Architecture
Architect: Auguste de Montferrand born in France and served in Napoleons
Imperial army. This Cathedral was a lifelong project for Montferrand.
Neoclassical in style and based on the Greek Cross in Floor plan.
Large central dome, Grey stone, Red finnish granite Corinthian columns.
Pediments are decorated with relief sculpture hard to see from street level.
Neoclassical architecture was a dominant style in late eighteenth early nineteenth
Century France.
The art displayed in this section depicts key shifts in political power
Beginning with the reign of Peter the Great and the rise of the Romanov
Dynasty through the early twentieth century.
A period ruled by Tsars presiding in Moscow. The orthodox church was the most
Important patron of the arts.
Icon painting, Murals and Sacred architecture were the richest area of development
In the muscovite period.
Catherine the Great (Catherine II)
Sophia Augusta Frederica
German Born Princess who married her
Second cousin Peter.
Active as an art collector, she increased the
Size of the imperial collections vastly.
Peter the Greats main residence
Located adjacent the “Winter Palace”
stands the Hermitage, a building
Created primarily as a refuge for
Catherine the Great.
(a personal retreat)
Façade echoes Winter Palace in it’s
Symmetry.
It can be said that Peter the great built
A uniform and modern St. Petersburg
With his love for western architecture
In particular his admiration of the
Palace of Versailles.
A huge growth in residential buildings
As well as social spaces, dining
Gathering halls were completed on
his vision to model after western
Living practices.
Palace of Versailles, France
Interior of the Hermitage can now be described as an enormous museum complex
Holding one of the worlds greatest art collections in the world.
Designed and constructed by two architects, one Russian and one commissioned
from France.
Commissioned by Catherine the
Great for Peter the Great to help
Strengthen her connection to him
and to show herself as his heir.
Thoughtfully placed in front of
St. Isaacs Cathedral overlooking
River Neva, the same river Peter
Built his first house.
Most famous representation of
Peter the Great, influenced by
Monuments which commonly depict
Leaders on horseback.
A leader on horseback is a symbol
Power and control over State.
Prior to portraiture becoming popular, religious art including icon paintings
Were most popular. Both forms of painting take very diffent sets of skills
To achieve.
Religious icon paintings depict an ideal image, not a likeness of the subject.
abstract heavenly backgrounds with gold and vibrant colors were typical.
Portraits are sometimes idealized, but a likeness is necessary. The background
Is that of the earth and depicting wealth, power and earthly possessions.
Countess Samoilova born to a Noble family
In Italy, a descendant to Peter the Great.
Married Nicholas I of Russia.
Known for her decadent lifestyle and many
Love affairs.
Depicted here in a monumental scale portrait
With her Black servant showing her wealth,
her Foster child Giovanina as she had no
biological children and her little d
og, a symbol of domesticity.
Elaborate and tasteful clothing
Also reveals the families wealth and
Cosmopolitan lifestyle.
Created by one of Russia’s most
Accomplished painters Karl Briullov
Commissioned by Tsar Nicholas II for his wife
Empress Alexandra in 1903
Also served to commemorate the 200 year
Anniversary of Peter the Great’s founding of St.
Petersburg.
Designed and constructed by Michael Perkin,
Working under the company of the Faberge
Brothers Karl and Agathon.
Lavish, precious ,ornate with extreme detail.
Gold, ruby, diamonds and quartz. With 4
Miniature paintings of Peter the great, Nicholas II
Peter the Great’s first cabin on the river Neva and
The Winter Palace.
The Egg allowed Nicholas II to emphasize the
Connection between himself and Peter the Great
In the same way that Catherine used the
Monument of Peter the Great to show her
Relationship with him.
“LOISEAU DE FEU”
Translation: the Fire Bird”
One of a number of folk tales collected and
Published in the nineteenth and early
Twenteith centuries.
Stage Design for The Tale of
The Golden Cockerel
(LE COQ D’OR)
ACT III 1914 Opera/Ballet
Natalia Sergeevna Goncharova
Leader of the Neoprimitivist
Movement in Russia. Inspired by
Italian futurism.
Tutu worn in LE MORT DU CYGNE
The Dying Swan
Russian Ballerina Anna Pavlova escaped
Poverty when she decided to choose ballet
For her way of life.
A growth in Ballet companies emerged with
The support from the imperial court..
This tutu designed by Leon Bakst.
The dying swan was a ballet written specifically
for Pavlova by Michel Fokine.
A shift in artistic Motivation among artists
From Religious and political agendas to more selfish creative outlets
Now the artist will work to please himself
Idealistic depictions turn to naturalistic views and total abstractions
A general rejection of many of the former ways of working
Many artists choose to study abroad, particularly France for
freedom to create and the attraction to many new art movements
Painting by Ilya Repin 1884
Portrait of Vsevolod Mikhailovich Garshin
A popular Author in Ruusia
Repin is one of the most recognized
artists of Russia. His work can be
described as Impressionist in style.
Influenced by the Impressionist
Movement in France. The portrait is a
Naturalistic view of the writer. The desk
Is unkempt and his appearance is
Disheveled. He looks at the viewer as
If interrupted. He is not at all concerned
With lavish surroundings or things of
Comfort. His work is the most important
Thing to him and this idea is clearly
communicated.
Devoid of subject matter in
Vitaly Komar and Alexander Melamid
Together launched a new movement called
“Sots Art” Drawing on ideas from Pop Art in
The United states …which borrows from
Everyday life to comment on society.
They used Ironic visual twists to convey their
Ideas.
The Red cloth on the table is a symbol of the
communist party.
A portrait of Stalin hangs on the wall
A woman is blindfolded as a soldier looks on.
The interpretation is unclear.
One popular idea points to the problematic
Stalinist society and the failure to “see”
oppression.
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