Heralds of the Resurrection in Russian Art. Through Time

Abstract

The article presents some pieces of Russian art dedicated to the theme of Christ’s Resurrection. Although it does not claim to be complete, it illustrates a path of a religious image and iconography in Russian visual culture from the Middle Ages to the XX century from illustrative pathos in the works of saints to V. M. Vasnetsov’s pictorial expression, refined M. V. Nesterov’s symbolism and masters who remained within the framework of a realistic tradition. It is significant that in Russian art the very moment of the Resurrection of Christ is not often depicted, equally as in Gospel, this event was hidden from human eyes. Many famous Russian artists approached the sacred topic having executed amazing graphic sketches of paintings or murals, most of which were never realized.