Nicholas Roerich: paintings and a brief biography of the great Russian artist

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Nikolai Konstantinovich Roerich is known throughout the world for his artistic genius. In addition, he showed his creative abilities in literature, was fond of archeology, traveled a lot and was engaged in active social activities. However, few people know that Roerich is the founder of his own religious and mystical movement. His studies in the occult sciences and regular séances served as a pretext for excommunicating the artist from the church.

Nicholas Roerich painted pictures all his life. There are more than 7,000 copies of them, not counting the numerous sketches for mosaic complexes and frescoes in various temples and churches. The artist traveled an incredible number of countries, which was reflected in his works. The philosophy of the East left a big imprint on his whole life.

Nikolai Konstantinovich Roerich gave a lot of mysteries and uniqueness to the whole world. The paintings he painted in his younger years are significantly different from later paintings, but this does not detract from their artistic value. His first significant work in the world of art was "Messenger".

"Rise generation after generation" (1897)

Talent literally broke out of Roerich during the defense of his diploma. The painting "Rise generation for generation" made a splash. Tretyakov himself bought it for his gallery. Leo Tolstoy spoke enthusiastically about the picture. Using a plot from the Gospel of Matthew, through his "Messenger" the young Roerich conveys a message to all the people on behalf of Christ. In parting words, a cry that wars, illnesses and disasters are coming. The famous critic Stasov said then: "Tolstoy will understand what news the messenger is in a hurry with."

"Idols" (1901)

Just 4 years after the first major success, a new Nicholas Roerich appears before us. His paintings become more plot and fantastic, all the details are drawn more clearly and more confidently, in comparison with the author's early works. His "Idols" are the embodiment of pagan thoughts and images inspired by archaeological expeditions.

Palisade strung with animal skulls, and a pensive old seer wanders alone between the figures of silent idols… This plot was continued by other works, for example, "Sinister", written in the same year.

Roerich's Prophecy

Nicholas Roerich's paintings (with titles) are presented in many domestic and foreign catalogs. Among them there are well-known and not so. There are at least two works that are considered prophetic - "The Condemned City" and "The Cry of the Serpent". Both paintings were painted one by one in 1914, shortly beforerevolution. Solovyov, Roerich's friend and critic, wrote that the author's works echo the ancient parable of Babylon.

Nicholas Roerich paints pictures, playing with contrasts. So it is here: against the backdrop of a fiery sky and a snake that wrapped around the city from all sides, the gloomy gray walls of fortresses rise. In this author's hopelessness - the inevitability of an early revolutionary wave.

Heavenly Fantasy

Nicholas Roerich always frames pictures with plot content with the outline of clouds. He gives them a special place in his works, and sometimes even assigns the main role. For example, the painting "The Decree of Heaven". Roerich in his literary memoirs describes the clouds as something special, which he remembered from early childhood. Possessing a wide creative imagination, in perpetual motion he constantly noticed something new: heroes, horses, dragons.

In the painting "The Decree of Heaven" people play a secondary role, praying with their hands up. The play of clouds is noticeable in many other works of the artist, such as "Three Crowns", "Heavenly Battle" and others.

Saint Panteleimon

The artist Nicholas Roerich often writes paintings based on biblical subjects or folk legends. His work "Panteleimon the Healer" about a skilled healer-herbalist is interesting. But even here it is not clear where the boundary between heaven and earth lies. And here and there you can see special landscapes. Against their background, Panteleimon is just a partnature. Medicinal herbs emit light in the depths of the night. The long beard of the herbalist flutters and mixes with the wind. Nature and man are one - this is the main idea of this picture.

Roerich and the North

Wherever he traveled, no matter what countries he visited, Nicholas Roerich, a native of St. Petersburg, always loved and appreciated the restrained northern beauty. The paintings (photos are presented in the article), which he painted all his life, for the most part convey the landscapes of his childhood.

"Holy Island" demonstrates all the power and impregnability of Valaam, whom the artist met in 1906. There are no ordinary people here. Everything is sacred on the island, from man to stone. It seems that the outlines of faces are visible everywhere, and the people themselves are decorated with halos.

Eastern philosophy

Nicholas Roerich gave many years of his life to the East. His paintings are often thoroughly saturated with a special philosophy. On all oriental plots - people with their own customs, worldview, striving for light and calm. Roerich endows each picture with a soul that is not clear to everyone, but attracts with a unique charm.

The variegation of the Himalayan mountains seems artsy and contrived to those who have not seen them in nature. The artist fell in love with the East so much, he became so close to him that even on his tombstone there is an inscription about his friendship with the Indian people.

At the end of his life, Roerich, permeated with Eastern culture, adopted Lamaism - the religion of death, accepting it as something natural, butrequiring destruction. This pagan faith is characterized by sacrificial offerings with an abundance of blood. But, along with this, faith in the light lived in Roerich. This is evidenced by his paintings, which have become Russian property, a legacy handed over by a brilliant artist to a great country.