Painting "Church of the Intercession on the Nerl" by Gerasimov: history and description

Sergei Vasilievich Gerasimov - Russian, Soviet artist. Among his works is the painting "The Church of the Intercession on the Nerl". It reflected the love of the master for landscapes, a tribute to the temples, many of which were destroyed with the advent of Soviet power.

Artist Biography

Gerasimov Sergey Vasilievich was born in 1885, on September 14, in Mozhaisk. Although he was from a peasant family, a gifted boy was able to enter the Stroganov Art School, where he studied fine arts from 1901 to 1907. Then he entered the school of painting, sculpture and architecture, where he studied from 1907 to 1912. His teachers were KA Korovin, SV Ivanov.

In 1915, the artist built himself a house-workshop, where he worked fruitfully. In his youth Sergei Gerasimov painted mostly watercolor. In this technique, he was able to create an exquisite color gamut by means of light, free strokes. This style became characteristic of his works. The artist liked to draw landscapes, portraits, appeal to the motives of the people's way of life.

Gerasimov is called an exquisite landscape painter and lyric poet by nature. Love for nature is seen in many of his paintings. It is reflected in the canvases "Spring Morning", "Ice passed", "Winter", "Mozhaisk landscapes" and many others. Gerasimov's painting "The Church of the Intercession on the Nerl" was written with love for nature and respect for the people's shrine.

After the revolution of 1917, many temples and monasteries were destroyed. The artist reflected in his work impressions of this. He was able to pay tribute to the closed and ruined shrines, writing "The Church of the Intercession on the Nerl".

The history of the construction of this temple goes back to the deep past ...

A bit about the sacred shrine

You can begin a description of the Church of the Intercession on the Nerl from the history of its creation. The exact date of construction is unknown, tentatively - it is 1158 or 1165. It is believed that the cathedral was erected in memory of the son of Grand Duke Izyaslav Andreevich. Later, when the Feast of the Intercession of the Virgin began to be celebrated in Rus, the church was called the Church of the Intercession.

The shrine is located in a unique place. The temple is built on a man-made hill, around it is a meadow. Earlier on this place, the Nerl River flowed into Klyazma, there was a water trading route.

Talking about the Church of the Intercession on the Nerl, the description of the temple can begin with its foundation. In ancient times the waters of the river could rise 5 meters, so the building is built on a foundation that extends far into the interior. It is faced with a white stone, the walls are strictly vertical, almost square, decorated with carved reliefs. The building is a cross-domed type, one-headed. Inside it - the pillars, tapering upward. This allows the room to look visually higher than it actually is.

The painting "The Church of the Intercession on the Nerl" conveys the face of the temple, but without the smallest detail, a special emphasis is placed on nature. It is time to talk in detail about the famous canvas by Gerasimov.

Painting by the artist

The history of creating a masterpiece is as follows. The master wrote the canvas in 1937. At this time, repression was rampant in the country, there was a rather turbulent time. Perhaps, he wanted to find pacification, working in such a blessed place. In those days, as mentioned above, churches, monasteries were closed, turned into warehouses or even blown up. Fearing for this shrine, the artist captured it forever with the help of paints and canvas.

The white-stone church is located in the central part of the exposition, but it occupies a rather modest place. The beauty of man-made creation does not overshadow the natural. All objects on the canvas harmoniously coexist.

In the foreground we see the coastline. On a background of green grass, yellow flowers stand out in bright, but not fanciful stripes. Here a woman with a baby walks, the baby bends down to pick a spring flower.

What else is depicted on the canvas

The coastline is repeated by the water line. The river is depicted in blue, pink, sometimes green watercolor. In the water, the main object of the painting is reflected - the church. It is also surrounded by green grass. A boat is tied around the shore. Maybe a man came to her to pray. To the right of the temple people are visible, they are moving away from him, go about their business.

The painting "The Church of the Intercession on the Nerl" will allow students who are asked to write about her composition, replenish their vocabulary, reveal their creative abilities, expand their horizons. Someone will want to know more about this place. Others will be able to compose their story on a given topic and tell how the events on the canvas will develop further. Others will believe in themselves and will also want to become artists. All this is fine and commendable. Young talents will be able to start with the image of the sky and so sharpen and improve their technique.

Trees and sky

The artist painted the sky in a calm, but at the same time, rainbow colors. The painting "The Church of the Intercession on the Nerl" helps to see not only the beauty of nature, shrines, but also to look up. The celestial vault in the background closes with the horizon line. Young artists can start their landscape with it. Then up from this line you will need to sketch the blue, pink, blue watercolor strokes.

Do not make them too bright, they should look the same as the canvas of SV Gerasimov. Then this part of the landscape will be inscribed also harmoniously.

Considering the picture of Gerasimov's "Church of the Intercession on the Nerl", you come to the conclusion that the artist did not hesitate to place a tree next to the temple. After all, it does not distract attention to itself, but once again emphasizes the whiteness and cleanliness of the walls.

Small trees, located at a distance, highlight the bend of the river, which makes the picture even better.

Conclusion

Making a description of the Church of the Intercession on the Nerl, you see, there is nothing superfluous and pretentious here. The church, built in ancient times on the Nerl River, attracted with its majestic beauty many artists. Someone in his canvases paid more attention to the most sacred building, the image of its details. SV Gerasimov showed how nature becomes even more beautiful against the background of the white-stone church. The colors of the sky, the river, the meadows and the walls of the cathedral are perfectly combined with each other, allow you to look at the landscape through the eyes of the artist and to feel the atmosphere of tranquility and pacification in this colorful place.