In ancient Russia, works of art were usually not signed. It was believed that the only creator of everything is God, and man only fulfills his will. But thanks to the annals, the names of the best artists remained in history. One of them is Theophanes the Greek.
The first works in Ancient Russia
Theophanes the Greek is from Constantinople. He was born in 1340. This Byzantine painter had a strong influence on the formation and subsequent development of Russian icon painting.
In the 70s, having already painted many churches in his homeland and in Genoa, he came to Novgorod. By that time, the Greek was already an established master with an original view of art. He was offered to decorate the Novgorod Church of the Transfiguration of the Savior on Ilyin Street with frescoes.
Soon the image of Christ appeared in the dome of the temple. His image was unusual: a dark face, a serious look, a huge blessing hand. Then the same angels, saints, appeared on the walls and columns. All these characters of the Greek painting, almost monochrome, mostly red-brown, were supposed to instill fear and humility in everyone, remind of the inevitability of the Last Judgment.
Around the eyes, on the cheeks, neck and chest, the master placed short white strokes - gaps. This is how he portrayed spiritual light. As if a candle is burning inside each figure, and this light transforms it, animates it. The Greek thereby showed that divine fire lives in every person, and therefore the strength of the spirit is inexhaustible.
Such painting corresponded to the character of Novgorod temples - powerful, restrained. And the very spirit of the Novgorodians. It is no coincidence that the works of the Byzantine master fit so organically into the so-called Novgorod school of painting.
Fashion artist
In the 90s, the Greek moved to Moscow, where he quickly became a fashion master. He was often invited to paint not only churches, but also private houses. He also designed books.
The Greek, together with other painters, designed several cathedrals. Few of them have survived to this day. Thus, several figures from the iconostasis of the Annunciation Cathedral have survived.
It was designed by a Byzantine artist together with a young artist-monk Andrei Rublev in 1405. They came up with an iconostasis - the partition separating the altar, turned into a whole wall with icons in several rows. The Greek passed on to his student a lot of his experience and, in general, greatly influenced his work. Now Rublev is considered the best ancient Russian artist.
Theophanes the Greek did not put signatures on his works, but the manner of his writing was so individual and so different from others that today experts can determine the authorship by the peculiarities of the painting. She is expressive and tense. Thus, they believe that the Byzantine painted the icons "The Dormition of the Mother of God", "Transfiguration", "The Mother of God of the Don". The rest of his work has not survived.
Theophanes the Greek died in 1410. He never saw the masterpieces of his student Andrei Rublev, but he gave a powerful impetus to the development of ancient Russian painting.
