In the Tretyakov Gallery opens next exhibition, organized under the program "The Tretyakov Gallery opens its reservists'

TG, April 17 - September 8, 2012
Moscow, Lavrushinsky Lane, 10, room number 39

now in the Tretyakov Gallery presents "Viktor Vasnetsov. Sketches for paintings of Vladimir Cathedral in Kiev. 1885-1896 ", organized under the program" The Tretyakov Gallery opens its store-».

• Viktor Vasnetsov
  «Joy in the Lord, the righteous," Threshold of Paradise
  painted cardboard drum of the dome of the main three-part composition
  Canvas Oil on canvas. 295 x 1446
  State Tretyakov Gallery
  Source: Press Release TG

Viktor Mikhailovich Vasnetsov (1848-1926) - one of the most famous Russian artists of the second half of XIX - the beginning XX century. He was widely known primarily as the author of the paintings on the epic, fairy tales. Meanwhile, a significant place in his work took a religious painting. The first experience of the master in this field began painting in the Vladimir Cathedral in Kiev (1885-1896). In one of the permanent exhibition halls of the Tretyakov Gallery a rare opportunity to put all stored in the collections of the paintings and graphic works by Vasnetsov this cycle, the gallery received nearly 120 years ago.

Viktor Vasnetsov « Joy in the Lord, the righteous, "Threshold Paradise painted cardboard drum of the dome of the main three-part composition Oil on canvas. 295 x 1446 State Tretyakov Gallery Source: Press Release TG

Viktor Vasnetsov « Joy in the Lord, the righteous, "Threshold of Paradise painted cardboard drum of the main dome three-part composition Oil on canvas. 295 x 1446 State Tretyakov Gallery Source: Press Release TG

Take part in the interior of the temple, the monument dedicated to the 900th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus', the artist invited art historian and archaeologist Professor AV Prakhov, who led the interior decoration of the cathedral. Do not just agreeing because he believed "the case for the importance and greatness ... is extremely serious," the painter has devoted his life for ten years (1885-1896).

B. Vasnetsov, the son of a village priest, who had studied before admission to the Academy of Fine Arts in Theological Seminary, went to the execution of painting with a deep belief that "there is in Russia for the Russian artist holier and more fruitful business as a decoration of the temple," and with an understanding of the enormous responsibility facing before the painter. "This is truly the case, and the people and the matter of the highest art," - he wrote Polenov . The artist shared the hopes of the public that reviving the art of the church could become publicly available and understandable, expressing national ideals.

Viktor Vasnetsov Christ the Almighty cardboard to paint the ceiling of the main dome Oil on canvas. 175 x 174 State Tretyakov Gallery Source: Press Release TG

Viktor Vasnetsov «only-begotten Son of God's Word» cardboard to paint the ceiling of the main nave Oil on canvas. 70 x 138 State Tretyakov Gallery Source: Press Release TG

" Decoration of the church "for Vasnetsov was the comprehension of the great values. Carefully prepare for the upcoming work, the artist traveled to Italy, where he became acquainted with the monuments of Byzantine art. Then, in Kiev, where he moved from Moscow in 1885, he studied the mosaics and frescoes of St. Sophia's Cathedral and St. Michael's Monastery.

The main idea of ​​a program developed by A. Prahova, was in understanding the religious history of Russia, its inclusion in the Byzantine Empire in the world history of culture. The main attention was focused not only on developing stories related to the baptism of Prince Vladimir of Russia, but also on creating a gallery of images of Russian saints - canonized figures of ancient Russia, the Russian Orthodox zealots.

Viktor Vasnetsov God of hosts Cardboard for painting the ceiling of the main nave Oil on canvas State Tretyakov Gallery Source: Press Release TG

Viktor Vasnetsov Crucified Christ cardboard to paint the ceiling of the main nave Oil on canvas. 134 x 249 State Tretyakov Gallery Source: Press Release TG

In the Vladimir Cathedral Vasnetsov executed with the assistance of helpers most of the work - painted all of the main nave of the church, the middle part of the chorus and three of the pillars separating the nave from the two sides. There were created 15 tracks and 30 individual figures of saints in full growth. Among them: "The Virgin and Child" on the east wall of the sanctuary, "Saints" and "prophets" in the north and south walls of the altar, "Christ the Almighty" in the main dome, "The joy of the righteous in the Lord" in the drum of the main dome , "Evangelicals" on the sails of the main dome, "Last Judgement" on the west wall, "The Baptism of Russia" in the baptismal at the entrance, "the only begotten Son of God's Word," "God of hosts," "Crucified Christ" - in plafonds main nave, the image historical figures, canonized - Princess Olga and Prince Vladimir, Alexander Nevsky, Nestor the Chronicler, Michael of Chernigov - on the pillars of the cathedral, a few icons in the marble iconostasis, as well as ornaments and pictures in medallions.

Viktor Vasnetsov Baptism of cardboard mural above the entrance to the gallery Oil on canvas. 214 x 187 State Tretyakov Gallery Source: Press Release TG

Viktor Vasnetsov Judgment cardboard paintings of the western wall of the main nave Oil on canvas. 290 x 277 The State Tretyakov Gallery Source: Press Release TG

artist had to be addressed in a wall painting of the main tasks of the church of painting: to find the right balance of concrete and the ideal. He joined realistically interpreted three-dimensional figure with the background data in the conventional manner of Russian miniatures and put all the images in the ornamental carpet frame. Overall color paintings, built on the joyous soft and warm colors, allowed to reach harmonic unity. in the journal "World of Art" wrote the monumental ensemble of the temple: "This whole creation is sustained, which felt a gust of living and a large decorative flair».

AP M.Tretyakov appreciated creativity V. Vasnetsov. was an unprecedented admission to the gallery in 1893, almost all the preparatory work for the paintings in the cathedral.

Apart from sketches to paintings, the exhibition includes rare editions and documents that reflect the stages of creating an artist of monumental decoration of the temple.

Source : TG Press Release