2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25
Traditions of carving figures from wood are rooted in the ancient history of mankind. The first samples known to scientists date back to the times of Ancient Asia. Even then, wooden sculptures appeared in the form of figures of gods and rulers from various tree species. They were carefully looked after, washed, rubbed to a shine, often with essential oils, in order to give the statues a fragrance.
Russian wooden sculpture
Russian sculpture began its journey from the time of the Slavs, paganism. Our lands were rich in forests, so wood was the most accessible material for both construction and creativity. In those distant times, wooden idols were made in Russia, and houses were decorated with carvings. Although these decorations and sculptures were primitive, it was the beginning of the art of woodcarving.
Over time, as in any kind of creative activity, work techniques, tools, traditions have changed. Experience accumulated.
After the baptism of Russia, craftsmen began to carve wooden sculptures of saints. The Orthodox Church saw pagan traditions in this and was against such art. The ministers of the church believed that the temples shouldbe only images. Many wooden sculptures were burned.
Nevertheless, unique sculptural images of George the Victorious, Nikolai Ugodnik, Paraskeva Pyatnitsa, Nil Stolobensky have survived to this day. While some of them are very well studied, others deserve more research.
Russian wooden creations were very different from Western Catholic ones, which were distributed everywhere to decorate palaces and dwellings of the nobility. They were more restrained, calmer, kinder.
A wooden sculpture still remains in the church. Only now the figurines have replaced the carved decorations of iconostases, columns, walls.
Pre-Petrine school
Unfortunately, the history of wooden sculpture in Russia is a little-explored area. The names of the authors of most works are unknown.
Wooden sculpture was especially widespread in the regions of the Russian North. Most of the men there knew how to carve wood. Therefore, the pre-Petrine school of wooden sculpture is the most famous - Verkhnekamsk. To date, a rich collection of sculptures is kept in the museum of Perm. It is known under the name "Perm Gods". Many research papers are devoted to it.
Historians answer the question of where the school of wooden sculpture originated based on these descriptions.
The era of Peter the Great
During the Petrine period, the school of wooden sculpture gets a new development. There is a keen interest in wood carving, because a new capital, St. Petersburg, is being built. Are being rebuilt underfashion-influenced old buildings. In imitation of the West, it is fashionable to decorate interiors with the help of sculptures and whole sculptural compositions, mirrors, platbands with carved frames, walls with whole wooden paintings. Many interior items are decorated with wooden carvings. Statues welcome hosts and guests at entrances, in parks, gardens.
Peter the Great sends Russian masters abroad to study new techniques.
Shipbuilders made a great contribution to the development of wooden sculpture, again, not without the influence of Peter. According to the royal decree, all models of ships, before starting construction, had to be made in a small size. The king did it himself.
The bow of every ship in those days was traditionally decorated with a wooden statue.
Modernity
Currently, wooden sculptures can be seen everywhere - from suburban areas to public parks, city streets. The interest of the population in this material accessible to Russia is wide. Environmental friendliness, ease of processing attract not only eminent craftsmen, artisans, but also people who love creativity from different walks of life and occupation.
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