Duel on the Kulikovo field in the painting by the Russian artist M. I. Avilov

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

There are many glorious pages in Russian history! You can talk about them endlessly. One of them is a story about a battle between two warriors that took place before the famous and tragic Battle of Kulikovo.

The duel on the Kulikovo field is a special battle. Literary, musical and artistic works were devoted to this battle.

Let's consider today one of the art paintings by the remarkable realist artist M. I. Avilov.

History of the creation of the work

The full name of the artist's painting is as follows: "Duel of Peresvet with Chelubey on the Kulikovo field." The picture was painted by the author in the difficult year of 1943, when the fate of our country was being decided near Stalingrad. It was in that battle that the Russians won, which determined the outcome of the most terrible war in the 20th century.

In the picture we see a similar situation: two horsemen met in a deadly fight, their spears pierce each other, their horses reared up, both warriors are full of rage, but it is still unknown which of them will be the winner.

Russian chronicle, describing the plot in detailbattles, in the end speaks of the victory of Peresvet, because he - mortally wounded - was brought back to the Russian troops by his horse, while Chelubey died, falling out of the saddle, knocked out by a powerful blow from his opponent.

The plot of the work

The duel on the Kulikovo field is depicted by the artist as a dramatic clash of two forces: Russian and Tatar.

The composition of the work is extremely clear. In the center of the canvas are two figures of warriors sitting on horseback. The faces of the soldiers are turned to each other, while the face of Chelubey is hidden by a thick beard, and the audience does not see him. The face of Alexander Peresvet, on the contrary, is seen looking at the picture.

It is clear that the Russian hero is experiencing the strongest physical and mental stress, all his strength is focused on defeating his enemy.

The characters are dressed differently. Chelubey is dressed in rich robes. Even his horse's blanket is made of red material embroidered with gold. On the head of the Tatar warrior is a helmet-turban trimmed with fur. His shield is painted with expensive script.

The Russian warrior is dressed in simple chain mail, on his head is an iron helmet, on his horse is an ordinary harness. It can be seen that the Russian hero is not used to showing off his appearance.

Avilov: duel on Kulikovo field as a reflection of the meaning of Russian history

The duel on the Kulikovo field is the most important event in the history of our country. After all, it was one of the first major battles when the Russians, after a hundred years of the yoke of the Golden Horde, decided to defend their independence in a terrible battle withenemy. And this was the beginning of the process of unification of Russian lands around the Moscow principality, which helped to make the Russian state stronger.

Referring to the events of distant history, the artist seems to instill in his compatriots the hope that in 1945 our country will not be defeated, but a future victory over the terrible evil of the 20th century - fascism. Russian warriors will always defend their homeland, they will never bend in the face of the enemy. Such an example is shown to us by the Russian hero - Alexander Peresvet, and those soldiers who stand behind him.

By the way, the Russian troops in the picture are depicted with the help of modest gray colors, the faces of the soldiers are turned to the fighting Peresvet and his rival. The Russians are focused, they are not afraid of death, but they believe in their victory. The Tatar troops, on the other hand, are diverse and unsure of themselves, they howl not for their homeland, but for their future booty, which they can get by once again plundering Russian lands.

The symbolic meaning of the work

The duel on the Kulikovo field and the subsequent victory of the Russian troops over the Tatars marked the turn of Russian history from the era of the feudal split to the gathering of lands. The same thing, according to the artist, will happen when Russian troops enter Berlin and show the whole world what a Russian victory means.

The artist anticipates the events of the future, he instills in his viewers the hope that our country cannot be broken by any military force, because the strength of Russia is in its people, in its defenders, who are ready to sacrifice themselves, butdo not let your native land be desecrated.

Therefore, the painting "The duel of Peresvet with Chelubey on the Kulikovo field" enjoys such a love of viewers of many generations. After all, the very history of our country was embodied in it.

Thus, Avilov's painting, kept today in the Russian Museum, is both a talented illustration of Russian history and a prophetic prediction of the outcome of the great liberation war waged by our country.