Svetoslav Roerich’s paintings can be seen in museums in Belgium, Bulgaria, USA, France, India, Russia. The artist’s skill has earned worldwide recognition. The complexity of compositions, the harmonious sound of colors, the expressiveness of lines - his work is equated with masterpieces of art.
Magnificent paintings, philosophical books left behind Roerich. Svyatoslav Nikolaevich - teacher, organizer, public figure - spent the bulk of his life in India. Honorary awards of many countries testify to his great contribution to the development of culture and friendship of peoples.
His multifaceted activities cover architecture, theater, painting, graphics, book illustration, ornithology, archeology. It is a known fact that the official medicine could not stop the epidemic of pulmonary plague in India. Svyatoslav Nikolaevich independently prepared a vaccine recipe. Vaccines based on it have saved many lives.
Roerich family
Even under Peter I, the ancestor of the Roerich family, a Swede by nationality, moved to Russia. His last name translated into Russian meant "rich in glory." This family was famous for its public figures, writers, artists, philosophers.
- Nikolai Konstantinovich (1874–1947) - academician of the Russian Academy of Arts. Thanks to him, the Society for the Protection and Preservation of Monuments of Art and Antiquities appeared in Russia. In the United States, he created cultural and educational communities and associations. His travels in the Himalayas, Tibet, Altai, Mongolia, and later - in Manchuria and China were reflected in travel notes and stunning canvases. He ended his earthly journey in India, leaving behind more than 7000 paintings.
- Elena Ivanovna (1879–1955) - his wife, in his youth shone with musical talents. She performed with solo concerts as a pianist. She participated in the expeditions of her husband, was an inspirer and associate of his creative plans. He is the author of the books "Fundamentals of Buddhism", "Cryptograms of the East", "Banner of St. Sergius of Radonezh."
- Yuri Nikolaevich (1902–1960) - their eldest son, had amazing linguistic abilities. He knew perfectly dozens of languages. He was the director of the Himalayan Institute for Scientific Research "Urusvati", taught at Kalimpong University (India). In Moscow, he headed the sector of religion and philosophy of India at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the USSR Academy of Sciences.
Svyatoslav Roerich. Brief biography
Svyatoslav Nikolaevich (1904–1993) - the youngest son of Nikolai Konstantinovich and Elena Ivanovna. Growing up among talented people, he himself had many abilities. From childhood, he was engaged in painting, learning languages. Father took Svyatoslav on archaeological trips, where he studied the history of ancient Russian cities.
After graduating from Columbia University (USA) he is engaged in illustrations of books, graphics. Since 1923, he headed the Crown Mundi International Arts Center in New York, founded by his father.
Later, having moved to his parents in India, he completely devotes his time to art. He creates landscapes, portraits, holds solo exhibitions. Gradually becoming acquainted with the religion and philosophy of India, he heads the School of Arts in Bangalore. His wife was Devika Rani, an Indian film actress.
Roerich Svyatoslav Nikolaevich was the initiator of the creation in 1989 of the Soviet Roerich Foundation, where he transferred the archives of his parents and brother. He contributed to the strengthening of friendly relations between Russia and India. He was awarded the highest order of this eastern country - “Padsha-Bhushan”.
Devika Rani
Devika Rani from a young age was brought up in the family of her relative, Nobel laureate, writer Rabindranath Tagore. The high culture of her environment, her passion for art - all this served as an impetus for the development of excellent acting qualities. Devika Rani graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and the Royal Academy of Music in England.
Received a degree in architecture. She starred in films directed by her first husband. Not only in India, but also in Europe, films were a huge success. Subsequently, Devika Rani herself became a decorator and director (she studied this art in Germany).
Indian fidelity to the family, European education, numerous talents and beauty did not leave Roerich indifferent. They met while working on her new film. At first, Svyatoslav Roerich refused to fulfill the order of film producer Rani. She liked the artist’s paintings. She planned in the same style to create the scenery for her film. Devika went to a personal meeting with Roerich, not suspecting that he would soon become her life partner.
Roerich, biography which is tightly interwoven with the life of Devika Rani Roerich, at first sight fell in love with his future wife. He paints numerous portraits of his wife. His parents highly appreciated the spiritual qualities of the daughter-in-law, her high culture, and education.
Pictures of Svyatoslav Roerich
Numerous travels from an early age, a fascination with different cultures and languages left their mark on the work of Svyatoslav Nikolaevich. He created magnificent paintings on oriental themes. He participated with his father in creating the scenery for the operas Sadko, Snegurochka, and Prince Igor.
The versatility and vivid individualism of his paintings was appreciated during the life of the artist. Solo exhibitions were held with great success. They presented portraits of famous people of that time, Himalayan landscapes, genre sketches from Indian life.
He paid much attention to the study of Roerich paints. Paintings Indian paintings are not written in oil. The method of drawing paintings by tempera (on water) carried away Roerich. Local artists carefully kept their secrets. Their colors remained vibrant and vibrant after centuries.
Great influence on the work of Svyatoslav had Father Roerich. Paintings created by Nikolai Konstantinovich, are deeply symbolic. Moreover, they are accurate and documentary (in particular, the Himalayan mountains). The landscapes of Svyatoslav are softer, softer. Its tones are muffled, the details are slightly blurred and fogged.
All paintings by Roerich with titles impossible to find in museums in reproductions or in electronic form. He wrote a little more than 4000 paintings, many of which are in private collections in different countries.
Landscapes
Description of Roerich's paintings cannot be conveyed unambiguously. The artist’s paintings consist of color contrasts softened by the atmospheric flow. They are as if permeated by the light of the Indian sun or clouded by the bluish shadows of dusk. In the film “Big Rain” the power of the elements captivates the viewer, carries tropical rain with his power.
“And we are approaching” - the flow of the river and blocks of stone pacify greatness. The white peaks of the mountains resemble the Himalayas. Roerich filled the picture with the clear rhythm of the river, the pulsation of life in contrast with the eternity of the snowy peaks.
“Girnar” is a monumental mountain, smoothed by the softness of the clouds and the light of the setting sun. "Spring in Kullu" is penetrated by the pink light of flowering trees. "Kanchenjunga" is an almost mystical interweaving of clouds, mountains, light and all kinds of shades. “Damodar Kund” shows us how the transparency of water reflects the green of trees, the high sky, this is the idyll of life.
Portraits
Roerich's creativity is inextricably linked with portraits of famous people, politicians, relatives of the artist. Portraits of father, mother, wife are painted with love and boundless respect. "Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru" creates the image of a wise, noble man.
“Portrait of a Lama”, “Portrait of an Old Tibetan” - Indian portraits of ordinary people (blacksmith, sisters, maharaja, girls), they are written realistically, brightly, piercingly.
Artist Roerich in his paintings he emphasizes universal human ideals - wisdom, perseverance, courage, confidence, kindness, care. His portraits are elegant, concise, inexpressibly beautiful.
Roerich's desire for portraiture manifested itself early. He was not even 20 years old when talent manifested itself and demanded more and more new samples for creativity. Highlanders, Tibetan lamas, children - in all visible brightness of images, folk wisdom or carefree fun.
Female portraits are imbued with love, admiration for external beauty combined with wealth and fortitude. The thorough realism of writing is superimposed on the subjective perception of the artist.
Household Sketches
Often in his canvases he returns to the work of ordinary people Roerich. Svyatoslav Nikolaevich fills the paintings with ingenuous simplicity, saturated shades, they come to life in front of the audience.
“My Neighbors” is a village scene. Two women rest under the scorching sun, and a dog lazily lounged nearby. The picture is rhythmic with its combination of midday rest and the figure of a woman passing in the distance with a basket on her head.
The Potter’s House presents a pottery seller’s hut. A pile of pots, palm leaves of the house and two figures - the simplicity of the composition is mesmerizing.
The picture “Race” shows how a young girl and a little pig run, barely touching the ground. So you can hear the indolent laugh of the Indian woman, who easily picked up the edge of her robe.
“Daughters of the Sea” - a picture dedicated to fishermen. They themselves go to sea, catch and process fish. The bronze bodies, the energy of these women are saturated with inner strength and wholeness.
Religious paintings
Roerich’s life connected with India, its epic. The legends of Krishna were often used in his paintings by Svyatoslav Nikolaevich. His “Sacred Flute” is young Krishna playing his flute. The blue of the sky, the dark figure of a young man, a lonely cloud and gold of foliage - the gentle sound of a flute spreads through the desert.
Before us is "Jacob and the Angel." The Christian theme of the picture is intertwined with a mystical shade of sky and sparkling angel wings. “Christ with the disciples” is a traditional, almost icon-painted depiction of people and an incredible, colorful sky. “When the yogis gather,” calm figures do not disturb the peace of the blue mountains, the general pacification of the area.
The eternal ideals of beauty, spirituality are reflected in the triptych “Crucified Humanity”, the paintings “Eternal Life”, “Eternal Call”, “Feat”.
Social work
Roerich Svyatoslav Nikolaevich He was interested in the search for beauty, the highest spirituality of man. He believed that proper education promotes the development of a harmonious personality. He took a large part in the work of the children's school in Bangalore. It was created on the basis of the philosophy of the Indian thinker Ghosh.
Even Nicholas Roerich initiated the creation of the Roerich Pact, an agreement on protection from destruction of monuments of art and architecture. Svyatoslav Nikolayevich had to make a lot of efforts so that the Indian government would sign the document. India joined the Pact in August 1948.
For contribution to the friendship between Russia and India, strengthening cultural ties Roerich S. N. received the title of laureate of the International J. Nehru Prize and the Order of Padma-Bhushan, government awards of various countries.
In the 70-80s of the XX century, Svetoslav Roerich, whose biography is full of pious deeds, presented the Russian people paintings of his father, published his books. Roerich readings are arranged. Later, after a meeting with Gorbachev M.S., with the support of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, Svyatoslav Nikolaevich initiated the creation of the Soviet Roerich Foundation and the N.K. Roerich Museum. After the collapse of the USSR, the fund was renamed the International Center of the Roerichs.
The artistic and cultural heritage of the family includes paintings, personal correspondence, books, essays, the family library, relics, and personal items. All the contents (the mass of the cargo was 4 tons) was supposed to go to the Center Museum, one of the halls of which bears the name of Svyatoslav Nikolaevich. The museum gives lectures, exhibitions, theme nights.
Philosophy of S. N. Roerich
All members of the Roerich family adhered to one philosophical line. The ethics of Life was their belief system. This is the doctrine of the universe, its origin and evolution. The philosophical teaching of Living Ethics (Agni Yoga) is the 14-volume work of Helena Roerich. This is a synthesis of the ancient wisdom of the Masters of the East.
To reveal harmony, the highest sound in a person or in an object became the main idea of Svyatoslav Nikolaevich. To nourish with cosmic vibrations, to make the soul respond - this is the only way to join new ideas, concepts.
Spiritual education through a vision of the beauty of nature is reflected in his work. Art is able to touch the soul of man. The formation of one's own character is a long process that goes through life. Through the harmony of art, nature, soul, it is possible to join the cosmic consciousness. Which will gradually lead to the improvement of man himself.
Beauty and harmony will help to eliminate ugly thoughts, base actions, will contribute to the evolution of the soul. The artist is able to awaken an emotional response in people. He will help to look at the world in a different way. Beauty must penetrate into all spheres of human life. It is not abstract, but quite real. To clear oneself from everyday life, to see beauty in every moment of life - this is the main concept of Roerich. If you feel its vibration, then a change in daily thoughts and actions will contribute to a change in the soul.
Philosophy in creativity
The themes of humanism, justice, equality, fraternity of all peoples described in the Ethics of Life are a red thread through the work of Svyatoslav Roerich. He freely writes on any topic - religious, everyday. In his paintings reflected eastern teachings and Christian laws, mythology and the triumph of faith.
The artist synthesizes modernity and past eras, different cultures and nationalities. For him, there are no countries and borders. His art unites everyone, from a simple shepherd to a high politician.
In his paintings, the struggle between good and evil is clearly outlined by light and darkness. His portraits are specific and able to convey the internal state of man. Realism is synthesized with a truly cosmic color combination.
The artist’s art clearly shows Roerich’s individuality and his inner wealth. The man in his paintings is a devoted son of nature, a tireless hard worker in its fields. He immortalized in his canvases the stability of the mountains and the mobility of the air, the beauty of sunrises and moonlit nights. External forms are subordinate to the internal vision of the artist.
Conclusion
Artist Roerich sought not only to grasp the foundations of Indian art. He was completely imbued with the very essence of the life philosophy of the Indians. For millennia, the foundations of the human being of this country have been created. The artistic language of Roerich is a fusion of Russian and Indian culture.
Roerich's reproductions can be purchased in online stores. They take 3 to 5 days to cook. The originals of his paintings are in the workshop in Kulu and Bangalore, the State Tretyakov Gallery, the State Russian Museum, in private collections and numerous museums in India.
The unusualness of his paintings captures the eye. The non-standard approach in a combination of colors, compositional solutions has a rich range. Roerich’s beautiful, bright paintings are imbued with kindness, faith in the bright future of mankind. Some canvases sound a warning - the elevation of the heart is more important than the body and mind. He points out that compassion and mercy are the way of survival of mankind in the age of wars, environmental disasters, epidemics.
Roerich was interested in the idea of man’s self-education, the search for beauty in his soul and environment. To perfection, harmony, he sought in his work. The cosmic sound of his paintings, the richness of his artistic language, and amazing energy show the undoubted talent of this teacher, public figure, organizer, artist, writer.