Picture of Nicholas Roerich "Ilya Muromets" and other masterpieces

Nicholas Roerich is a wonderful man. Artist and writer, philosopher and public figure, researcher and scientist, he is at the source of not only a whole religious and philosophical teaching, but also special esoteric views on the world space and culture of the future. The concept of the "era of Aquarius" is also associated with the genius of Roerich.

Mystic artist

Painting - one of the main tools of knowledge of the world and the reflection of this knowledge in material forms. Each picture of Nicholas Roerich is an original look into the past and the present, an attempt to comprehend the historical and ethical moments of being. Aboriginal Russian culture, the ties of the East and Slavdom are the sphere of the artist's interests. Studying Ancient Russia, its traditions, identity and high spirituality, he devoted many years. Poetry of the olden days is covered with a picture of Nicholas Roerich "The Messenger" ("The family is reborn"). It refers to the cycle "Slavs and Varangians". In general, cyclicity is a characteristic sign of the artist's creativity.

Painting through the prism of history

He works in the chosen direction, trying to penetrate the darkness of the centuries, to see and understand what it was - Russia's original, immemorial, hiding in the darkness of the past years. Creating the canvas, the artist relies on factual material, since he is also an archaeologist who goes on an expedition to excavations and is therefore well acquainted with some or other layers of ancient Russian culture. This is evidenced by the painting by Nicholas Roerich "Red Sails" and one more, related to the pre-Christian period of life of the Russian lands - "Idols". Both of them belong to the "Slavic" series. It was with her that the recognition of the artist began by critics and colleagues in the shop and a keen interest in his work of the audience. Pagan, pre-Petrine Russia - mysterious, bright, colorful, attractive and at times intimidating, military and creative, anxious and pacified, many-sided and infinitely loved - so different - appears before our eyes. Therefore, any picture of Nicholas Roerich from the "Slavic" cycle - a real epic about a great people with a great culture.

Reikovsky «The Bogatyr Frieze»

In the State Russian Museum of St. Petersburg, the painting "Ilya of Murom" by Nicholas Roerich hangs. It was created in 1910 and is part of the suite "Bogatyr Frieze". This is a picturesque panel decorating a dining room in the famous house of Bazhenov in St. Petersburg. Now there is a Chekhov library in the building. A panel of panels went to the property of the museum. Russian folklore, in particular, were vividly interested in the artist, excited the imagination, served as a source of creative inspiration. Particularly important, significant were Roerich's figures of national defenders-heroes - Ilya Muromets and Mikula Selyaninovich. They, the legendary Sadko and other heroes of folk epics and were imprinted in the compositions of the "frieze". The Nameless Knight and Bayan, as if descended from the pages of The Lay of Igor's Host, Volga and the Nightingale the Robber return the viewer to "the affairs of bygone days". Monumental work is the highest surge of Roerich's fascination with ancient bylinas.

The image of Elijah

But back to one of the main characters of the frieze - the mighty and glorious Ilya Muromets. As in folk epics, he personifies here the defender of the region and the people, his military prowess and original patriotism. That is why the hero is depicted in close connection with his land. Because of the figure of Ilya blue, wherever you look, rivers and lakes, hills and forests rise, white-stone cities with golden-domed churches are seen. As if in patrol, the hero threw his bow, pulled the bowstring and gazed intently at the neighborhood. He will notice a suspicious something - and his arrow will fly straight at the enemy's heart with a bird. Ilya Muromets rises above all the Russian borders, being an unshakable barrier in the way of everything that can bring pain and suffering to the Motherland.

Favorite story

Yes, they have every creative personality - a favorite subject, a hidden story - the most intimate and expensive, which correspond to the deepest movements of the heart and mind, the most subtle moods of the soul. The painting by Nicholas Roerich "Overseas guests" is a striking example of this. Here, there are most details and motifs, passing from the canvas to the canvas. These are eternal wanderers, ships, and a traditional hilly landscape, and a living water element. And even the colorful color is also traditional: blue and green hues, soft, calm colors, so characteristic of the north-Russian landscapes. There is a picture in Ufa, in the Bashkir State Museum. Nesterov. It is dedicated, according to the artist himself, to one of the most important moments of ancient Russian history - the arrival of Rurik in Russia in the 14th century, and belongs to one of the best creations of a brilliant artist.