In the early 1960’s Ilya Glazunov began
work on a group of paintings addressing
one of the key events in Russian history
– the Kulikovo Battle. In these several
dozen paintings, based upon Russian chronicles
and historical documents, the artist has
depicted the atmosphere leading up to and
the course of events of this important battle
which determined not only the fate of the
Russian people but of European civilization
as a whole. Studying our native Russian
history and the very fabric of our culture,
there is not a single thread that would
not lead us to the name of St. Sergius of
Radonezh, who played an enormous role in
gathering together the spiritual forces
of the Russian land and freeing it from
the yoke of the nomads. The Russian people
turned to one of their most respected religious
leaders during this period of great crisis.
It is appropriate that St. Sergius became
the pivotal ../image of the Kulikovo Battle
series of paintings completed during the
1980’s.
The painting “St Sergius of Radonezh and
Andrei Rublev” was completed in 1992, when
the USSR was already dissolved and the threat
of total destruction and colonial enslavement
once again hung over Russia. Against the
backdrop of a thawing, ice-laden river and
a fire-streaked sky we see the great ascetic
and hero of the Russian land. It is known
that on the eve of the terrible attack on
the Russian land led by Mamai’s hordes,
Father Sergius traveled around and reconciled
the Russian princes with one another, uniting
them into a strong force on the eve of the
battle that would determine the fate of
the Russian people and the peoples of Europe
as well. It is significant that when Prince
Dmitri came to receive his blessing, St.
Sergius dispatched two monks, both former
boyars, as comrades-in-arms – Andrei Oslyabya
and Aleksandr Peresvet, who were fated to
perish for the Russian land and the Orthodox
faith.
After the bloody days of the October Revolution
of 1917, the Bolsheviks attempted to erase
the name of the patron and fighter for Rus’,
St. Sergius of Radonezh from the people’s
memory. It is a great accomplishment for
Ilya Glazunov to have courageously painted
an entire series of works recreating his
../image. For decades the artist fearlessly
reminded us of the enormous significance
of the saint who helped to build our national
spirit and prayed for our homeland.
In the dim light cast by the moon, almost
concealed by troubled, night clouds, a lone
horseman gallops towards a sleeping Russian
village in the painting “The Messenger.”
The artist wonderfully conveys the shimmering
moonlight, and the painting’s bluish green
tones create a mystical air. Only the distant
glow of dawn illuminates the surrounding
gloom and the messenger speeding on his
way.
“The Eve” captures a critical spiritual
moment just before the decisive battle for
liberation from the Mongol-Tatar yoke. St.
Sergius of Radonezh, Father-Superior of
the Troitsky Monastery blesses Muscovite
Prince Dmitri before the battle. To this
day, the Russian people perceive the Reverend
St. Sergius of Radonezh as their defender,
priest, and intercessor before God. This
is why the icon lamps remain lit above the
shrine of the saint who inspired a despairing
generation of men with will, courage, and
valor.
Illustrations
 |
 |
 |
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| St.
Sergius of Radonezh and Andrei Rublev
1992 |
The
Messenger. “Kulikovo Field” series.
1978 |
The
Tatars Have a Temporary Advantage. “Kulikovo
Field” series. 1980 |
The
Eve. “Kulikovo Field” series. 1977 |
Paintings depicting Prince Dmitri, the courageous,
inspired leader of the Russian forces, and
his wife Princess Yevdokia contrast with
paintings of a Mongolian girl portrayed
against the background of an agitated night
sky and of Khan Mamai illuminated by the
light of a fire, peering out into the darkness.
These embody the two forces which came together
in a deadly battle.
The painting “Temporary Advantage” depicts
the culminating moment of the battle in
which, as described in the chronicle, “spears
were broken like straw, arrows fell like
rain, dust covered the sun’s rays, swords
flashed like lightning, while people fell
like grass beneath a scythe, and blood poured
like water and flowed in streams.” The un-mounted
Russian host in the advanced ranks had already
heroically fallen, many among them Russian
princes. The hordes from the wild steppes
had begun to shout their victory slogans.
But the Russian victory was just ahead!
Today, when Russia is again in the throes
of troubled times and chaos, it is important
to remember her true sons, and the inspiring
example of their brave victory. This thought
comes to mind when viewing the painting
“The Prince is Found.” As is known, Prince
Dmitri, wishing to fight alongside the defenders
of Rus’ who absorbed the full force of the
enemy’s crushing blow, fought in the armor
of a common warrior. The painting depicts
the tragic and joyous moment when the Muscovite
prince, wounded but still alive, was extricated
from beneath a heap of bodies. Here, as
in other paintings in the Kulikovo series,
one is struck by the unexpectedness and
power of the compositional arrangement.
The silhouettes of the prince’s comrades-in-arms
are strikingly beautiful in their rhythm
and color. As if fiery wings, the greatcoat
of one warrior glows, reminding us of a
heavenly battle. A fading evening cloud
hangs above the earth.
In “Night After the Battle”, which could
be considered a requiem, we see bodies scattered
over the earth and the vague outlines of
people searching for survivors beneath the
cover of a blue, starry sky. Tragedy is
reflected in a woman’s face, illuminated
by the trembling light of a candle.
