Old Russian art includes several eras: from the reign of Yaroslav the Wise to the reign of Peter. Its origins are closely connected with the various traditions of the Eastern Slavic tribes, in which weapons, decoration and clothing must be decorated with ornaments, and the figurines were endowed with magical properties and personified all kinds of forces of nature.
The Art of Ancient Russia: Architecture
During this period, much attention was paid to the construction of monumental grandiose structures made of materials such as stone and wood. Mainly erected huts, temples, defensive walls on the embankment shafts, bridges over rivers, bridges, gridnitsy, mansions of the nobility and the tower. Buildings should be colorful painted, have intricate roofs and be decorated with carved patterns.
The art of Ancient Rus takes to a completely new stage the temple construction. Thanks to Byzantine architects, churches are being built using the four-pillar cross-domed structure. Its main idea is that with the help of columns or pillars the room is divided into longitudinal parts (naves). On the drum located on the central supports, there is a dome, and the central space forms a cross, as it were. On the eastern side should be located altar premises.
In the 11-12 centuries, the art of Ancient Russia is characterized by the rapid growth of temple construction. In Kiev, the art center of the ancient Russian state, more than four hundred cathedrals, the Golden Gate (front door to the city) and about eight markets were erected during this period.
The main religious building of this time is St. Sophia Cathedral. It is crowned with twelve domes, decorated with frescoes, mosaics, decorated with majolica, carved and polished stone.
Stone cathedrals were also built in Chernigov (Spaso-Preobrazhensky), Polotsk and Novgorod (Sofia).
Fine Art of Ancient Russia
The advent of Christianity brought a slightly different content to painting. The severity of Byzantine art clearly contradicted the pagan and joyful perception of the world that was usual for the Slavs. Under the brush of ancient Russian artists, the ascetic manner of painting of Byzantium turns into symbolic creations close to Slavic nature.
Icons are written primarily on wood.
The art of Ancient Russia is characterized by the development of fresco painting and mosaics. In this area, there are attempts to create your own style. The Novgorod school in its work used brightness and high color contrast. Fine art samples of the Kiev school are distinguished by a more delicate palette.
The figures in mosaics and frescoes reflect a certain plot, they are motionless and frontal, and the size personifies the importance of their semantic load.
Applied art of Ancient Russia
The images of ancient pagan mythology are reflected here. Wooden utensils, carved ships, furniture, jewelry and fabrics embroidered with gold are penetrated through symbolic images. Items discovered in treasures are decorated with animal drawings.
Women's jewelry with a variety of symbolic images had immediate ritual significance. Silver temporal pendants in the shape of a star, gold chains, monisto from medallions, beads, crosses, studded with grain with the finest scan, silver wide bracelets and rings made of precious metals with the image of a lion's head - this gave the festive feminine robe richness and color.
Fine plastic and front sewing reached a high level. Products using these techniques were created mainly in monasteries and workshops at the court of the Grand Duke. Sewing was carried out with multi-colored silk, mainly stitch. Embroiderers created many unique works of DPI (decorative arts), not inferior to paintings.