Russian wooden sculptures

The traditions of carving figures from wood are rooted in the most ancient history of mankind. The first samples known to scientists belong to the times of Ancient Asia. деревянные скульптуры в виде фигур богов и правителей из различных пород деревьев. 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 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 the tree was the most accessible material for both construction and creativity. In those days, wooden idols were made in Russia, decorated with carvings of dwellings. Let these ornaments and sculptures be primitive, but this was the beginning of the art of woodcarving.

Over time, as in any kind of creative activity, the techniques of work, instruments, traditions changed. Accumulated experience.

деревянные скульптуры святых. After the baptism of Rus, the masters began to carve wooden sculptures of saints. The Orthodox Church saw this as a pagan tradition and was against such an art. Church officials believed that in the temples there should be only images. деревянные скульптуры были сожжены. Many wooden sculptures were burned.

Nevertheless, unique sculptural images of St. George the Victorious, Nikolai the Sinner, Paraskeva Pyatnitsa, Nil Stolobensky have survived to the present day . If some of them are studied very well, then others deserve additional research.

Russian wooden creations were very different from Western Catholic creations, which were common everywhere for decorating palaces, noble dwellings. They were more reserved, calmer, kinder.

Remained a wooden sculpture still in the church. Only now the figurines replaced carved ornaments of iconostases, columns, walls.

The pre-Petrine school

Unfortunately, the history of wooden sculpture in Russia is an unexplored area. The names of the authors of most of the works are unknown.

Particularly common was wooden sculpture in the regions of the Russian North. There, most men could cut wood. допетровская школа деревянной скульптуры самая известная - Верхнекамская. Therefore, the pre-Petrine school of wooden sculpture is the most famous - the Verkhnekamskaya. Until now, a rich collection of sculptures is kept in the museum of Perm. It is known under the name "Permian gods". She devoted many research works.

где возникла школа деревянной скульптуры , историки отвечают, именно опираясь на эти описания. On the question of where the school of wooden sculpture originated , historians answer, based on these descriptions.

The Epoch of Peter the Great

In the Petrovsky period the school of wooden sculpture gets a new development. There is a keen interest in wood carving, as a new capital is being built - Petersburg. Old buildings are being rebuilt under the influence of fashion. In imitation of the West, interiors are fashionable to decorate with sculptures and whole sculptural compositions, mirrors, trim frames with carved frames, walls with whole wooden paintings. Wooden carvings decorate many interior items. Statues meet the hosts and guests at the entrances, in parks, gardens.

Peter the First sends Russian masters abroad to study new techniques.

Great contribution to the development of wooden sculpture made the shipbuilders, again, not without the influence of Peter. According to the tsar's decree, all models of the ships had to be executed in small size before starting the construction. The king himself did it.

The nose of each ship in those days was traditionally decorated with a wooden statue.

Modernity

At present, wooden sculptures can be seen everywhere - from country plots to public parks, city streets. The population's wide interest in this material accessible to Russia. Environmental friendliness, simplicity of processing attract not only eminent masters, craftsmen, but also those who love the creativity of people of different walks of life and occupation.