Description of the picture:
Rev. Sergius of Radonezh – Mikhail Vasilievich Nesterov. Canvas, oil. Two hundred forty eight x two hundred forty eight cm
Mikhail Vasilyevich Nesterov believed that for its triumph, a nation should have a spiritual guide who would become a moral guide. Such a person for the Russian people, Nesterov considered Sergius of Radonezh – the Old Russian hieromonk. The artist seriously approached the study of the life of the “spiritual father of Russia”, studying the chronicles. So began the “Radonezh” period in the works of Nesterov.
“Sergius cycle” consists of a dozen paintings dedicated to the saint. The paintings depict his childhood, youth, deeds and exploits. The master wanted to show Sergius not a stern old man, but human and meek.
The painting “Rev. Sergius of Radonezh” was started in one thousand eight hundred ninety one and completed in 1899. For almost eight years, the artist worked on the canvas. The author has not in vain spent so much time on this creation, because for him it was important to bring it to perfection. The special status of the painting is emphasized by the fact that it was created by M.V. Nesterov for himself. The artist presented all the previous canvases of the cycle to the Tretyakov Gallery.
The landscape in the background plays no less role than the figure of the abbot. Nesterov considered Russian nature to be animated, so he portrayed Sergius of Radonezh not near monasteries and temples, but near the picturesque landscapes of Russia.
The technique of writing the image of the Reverend is also interesting. The style echoes the traditional ruble style of depicting saints, but it is not without the influence of the newfangled Art Nouveau style.
There is nothing superfluous in the picture, conciseness and restraint are present here in everything – in forms, colors, the number of elements in the foreground and background. Everything was created so that the viewer would not be distracted from the original idea – a demonstration of the strength of spirit, asceticism and wisdom of the great hieromonk, as well as its inextricable connection with nature."