Sergey Vasilyevich Gerasimov - Russian, Soviet artist. Among his works is the painting “Church of the Intercession on the Nerl”. It reflected the master’s love 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, September 14, in Mozhaisk. Although he was from a peasant family, a gifted boy was able to enter the art school named after Stroganov, in which he studied fine art from 1901 to 1907. Then he entered the school of painting, sculpture and architecture, where he studied from 1907 to 1912. His teachers were K.A. Korovin, S.V. Ivanov.
In 1915, the artist built himself a workshop, where he worked fruitfully. In his youth, Sergei Gerasimov painted mainly in watercolor. In this technique, he was able to create an exquisite color scheme through light, free strokes. This style became characteristic of his works. The artist loved to paint landscapes, portraits, to appeal to the motives of folk life.
Gerasimov is called an exquisite landscape painter and lyricist by nature. Love for nature can be seen in many of his paintings. It is reflected on the canvases "Spring Morning", "Ice Passed", "Winter", "Mozhaisk Landscapes" and many others. Gerasimov’s painting “Church of the Intercession on the Nerl” was painted with love for nature and respect for the national shrine.
After the 1917 revolution, 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 "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 national shrine
You can begin the description of the Church of the Intercession on the Nerl with 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 Protection of the Virgin began to be celebrated in Russia, the church was called the Church of the Intercession.
The shrine is located in a unique place. The temple was built on a man-made hill, around it there is a flood meadow. Previously, at this point, the Nerl River flowed into Klyazma, there was a water trade route.
Talking about the Church of the Intercession on the Nerl, a description of the temple can begin with its foundation. In ancient times, the water of the river could rise by 5 meters, so the building was built on a foundation that goes far deep. It is faced with white stone, the walls are strictly vertical, almost square, decorated with carved reliefs. The building is a cross-dome type, single-headed. Inside it are pillars tapering upward. This allows the room to look visually higher than it actually is.
The painting “Church of the Intercession on the Nerl” conveys the appearance of the temple, but without the smallest details, a special emphasis is placed on nature. It is time to talk in detail about the famous canvas of Gerasimov.
Artist's painting
The history of the creation of the masterpiece is as follows. The master painted the canvas in 1937. At that time, the country was in a riot of repression, there was a rather turbulent time. Perhaps he wanted to find peace by working in such a blessed place. In those days, as mentioned above, churches, monasteries were closed, turned into warehouses or completely blown up. Fearing for this shrine, the artist captured it forever with 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 are harmoniously adjacent.
In the foreground we see the coastline. Against the background of green grass, bright but not fanciful stripes stand out yellow flowers. A woman with a child is walking here, the baby bent down to pick a spring flower.
What else is depicted on the canvas
The waterfront repeats the coastline. The river is depicted in blue, pink, sometimes green watercolor. In the water surface reflects the main object of the picture - the church. She is also surrounded by green grass. A boat is tied near the shore. Maybe a man sailed on her to pray. To the right of the temple people are visible, they are moving away from it, going about their business.
The painting "Church of the Intercession on the Nerl" will allow students who are asked to write an essay about it, replenish their vocabulary, discover their creative abilities, and broaden their horizons. Someone wants to know more about this place. Others will be able to compose their plot on a given topic and tell how events will develop on the canvas further. Still others will believe in themselves and also want to become artists. All this is beautiful and commendable. Young talents will be able to start with the image of the sky and thereby hone and improve their technique.
Trees and sky
The artist depicted the sky in calm, but at the same time rainbow colors. The painting “Church of the Intercession on the Nerl” helps to see not only the beauty of nature, shrines, but also look up. The vault in the background merges with the horizon. Young artists can start their landscape with her. Then up from this line you will need to sketch strokes of blue, pink, blue watercolor.
Do not make them too bright, they should look like on the canvas of S. V. Gerasimov. Then this part of the landscape will be in harmony too.
Examining Gerasimov’s painting “The Church of the Intercession on the Nerl”, you come to the conclusion that the artist was not afraid to place a tree near the temple. After all, it does not distract attention to itself, but once again emphasizes the whiteness and purity of the walls.
Small trees located at a distance highlight the bend of the river, which is why the picture also only wins.
Conclusion
When describing the Church of the Intercession on the Nerl, you understand that there is nothing superfluous and fanciful. The church, built in antiquity on the Nerl River, attracted many artists with its magnificent beauty. Someone on their canvases paid more attention to the most sacred building, the image of its details. S. V. Gerasimov showed how nature becomes even more beautiful against the background of a white-stone church. The colors of the sky, river, meadows and walls of the cathedral are perfectly combined with each other, allow you to look at the landscape through the eyes of the artist and feel what atmosphere of calm and tranquility reigns in this colorful place.