08 Works, Today, July 15th, is Saint Vladimir Sviatoslavich's day, his story in art #196

Unknown artist

Saint Vladimir the Great

Tempera, gold leaf, solid wood, varnish

30cm x 20cm x 2cm (11.81″ x 7.87″ x 0.79″)

Private collection

Vladimir Sviatoslavich (c. 958 – 15 July 1015), called the Great, was Prince of Novgorod, Grand Prince of Kiev, and ruler of Kievan Rus' from 980 to 1015.

Unknown artist

Saint Olga

Orthodox Icon on Wood with 22k Gold Leaves

Private collection

Though his grandmother, Queen Olga, had been a Christian, his father Svyatoslav reverted to paganism, and Prince Vladimir spent the early part of his life believing and living the beliefs of the pagan Russian people. 

Anton Losenko, (1737–1773)

Vladimir and Rogneda, c. 1770

Oil on canvas

Height: 2,115 mm (83.2 in) Width: 1,775 mm (69.8 in)

Russian Museum,  Saint Petersburg

Anton Pavlovich Losenko (10 August 1737 — 4 December 1773) was a Russian neoclassical painter and academician who lived in Imperial Russia and who specialized in historical subjects and portraits. He was one of the founders of the Imperial Russian historical movement in painting.

Anton Losenko became an orphan and at the age of seven was sent to a Court Choir in Saint Petersburg. In 1753, as he had lost his voice but had shown talent for painting. After five and a half years of apprenticeship, he was admitted to the Imperial Academy of Arts in 1759. In 1760, the Academy sent him to Paris to study art. In 1766-1769 Losenko worked in Rome, studying Italian art, especially the paintings of Raphael. 

In 1769, Losenko returned to Saint-Petersburg. He received an offer to present a historical painting as a way of receiving Academician status in the Imperial Academy of Arts. From an episode of Kievan Rus' history, he painted his classical canvas of Vladimir I of Kiev and Rogneda of Polotsk. This painting not only brought him the title of Academician but also a professorship position at the Imperial Academy, an adjunct-professor, but from 1772 a full professor and director of the Academy. While in this position Losenko wrote a text book called "Short Explanation of the Human Proportions" that served a few generations of painters in the Russian Empire. He worked as the Director of the Academy until his death in 1773. More on Anton Pavlovich Losenko

Rogneda of Polotsk (962–1002), was a Princess consort of Rus'. She was the daughter of Ragnvald who came from Scandinavia and established himself at Polatsk in the mid-10th century.

According to the Novgorod Fourth Chronicle, in or about 980, Vladimir the Great, on learning that Rogneda was betrothed to his half-brother Yaropolk I of Kiev, took Polotsk and forced Rogneda to marry him. Having raped Rogneda in the presence of her parents, he ordered them to be killed, along with two of Rogneda's brothers. 

But Vladimir sought for something more, and sent emissaries to study the faiths of the Jews, the Muslims, the Western Christians and the Orthodox. 

Melchior Lorichs

Detail of Hagia Sophia, c. 1559 

Constantinople

Melchior Loricks, or Lorck , (1526/27 – after 1583 in Copenhagen) was a painter and publisher of Danish and German descent. He was born in Germany and became known for his splendid engravings which show images of the Ottoman empire in the 16th century. He worked in Rome (and Augsburg for the Habsburg royal family. In 1551, during the rule of Suleiman the Magnificent, he joined Ferdinand I of Germany's embassy to the Sublime Porte.

Lorichs stayed in Istanbul for approximately four years, in the caravanserai in which the German embassy was obliged to live in confinement. He drew monuments of the city, human types and their costumes, and scenes from Ottoman military life.

He returned to Western Europe in 1559 and stayed in Vienna until 1566 where he published several of his drawings, among which the celebrated panoramic view of Istanbul (11.45 x 0, 45 metres) in 21 leaves in black and brown ink, in which buildings and monuments of the city are rendered in great detail.

In 1562 Lorichs published the portrait of Suleiman I the Magnificent. He continued to receive patronage and was a renowned engraver in the courts of Europe. He participated in political and military events of his time, and drew a map of river Elbe which remains significant until today. He lived and worked in Hamburg and Antwerp. He worked on the preparation of an edition with numerous wood engravings related to society, life and traditions in the Ottoman Empire, in accordance with a promise he had made to Suleiman.

Very little is known about the fate of Lorich and his works after 1583. Only some of the engravings were published (1619, 1626). However, his works inspired the artists of his time, and illustrations of Ottomans became very sought after thanks to Lorich's works.

Written by Ioli Vingopoulou

After attending services in Agia Sophia in Constantinople, they told him 'We knew not if we were on earth or in heaven,' and Prince Vladimir determined to embrace the Christian faith.

Viktor Mikhailovich Vasnetsov, (1848–1926)

Baptism of Saint Prince Vladimir, c. 1890

Oil on canvas

State Museum of Russian Art, Kiev

Viktor Mikhaylovich Vasnetsov (May 15 (N.S.), 1848 – July 23, 1926) was a Russian artist who specialized in mythological and historical subjects. He is considered the co-founder of Russian folklorist and romantic nationalistic painting, and a key figure in the Russian revivalist movement.

Vasnetsov's father Mikhail Vasilievich Vasnetsov, known to be philosophically inclined, was a member of priesthood, and of scholarly dictation in the natural sciences and astronomy. His grandfather was an icon painter. It was in Lopyal that Viktor started to paint, mostly landscapes and scenes of village life. 

In the late 1870s Vasnetsov concentrated on illustrating Russian fairy tales and the epic narrative poem Bylinas, executing some of his best known pieces

These works were not appreciated at the time they appeared. Many radical critics dismissed them as undermining the realist principles of the Peredvizhniki. The vogue for Vasnetsov's paintings would spread in the 1880s, when he turned to religious subjects and executed a series of icons for Abramtsevo estate of his patron Savva Mamontov.

In 1884-1889 Vasnetsov was commissioned to paint frescos in the St Vladimir's Cathedral of Kiev. This was a challenging work which ran contrary to both Russian and Western traditions of religious paintings. 

While living in Kiev, Vasnetsov made friends with Mikhail Vrubel, who was also involved in the cathedral's decoration. While they worked together, Vasnetsov taught the younger artist a great deal. It was in Kiev that Vasnetsov finally finished Ivan Tsarevich Riding a Grey Wolf and started his most famous painting, the Bogatyrs.


He died in Moscow in 1926. More on Viktor Mikhaylovich Vasnetsov


He was baptised in Cherson in 988, receiving the name Basil. "He came forth from the font not only healed of a blindness lately afflicting him, but also from being passionate and warlike, he became meek, peaceable, and exceedingly godly." (Great Horologion). 

After Vladimir converted to Christianity he had to divorce all his previous wives, including Rogneda. After that, she entered the convent and took the name Anastasia.

Unknown artist

Anna Porphyrogenita, Princess of Kiev and the Christianization of Rus

I have no further description of this artwork at this time

He married Princess Anna, sister of the Emperor, and returned home with a retinue of priests from Constantinople. He immediately set about building a Christian nation: casting down the idols, baptizing the people, and establishing a Christian government. 

Victor Mikhailovich Vasnetsov

Baptism of Russia, c.  1896

Preparatory composition for painting the Vladimir Cathedral in Kiev,

Oil on canvas

State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.

Victor Mikhailovich Vasnetsov, see above.

His legislation for his recently barbarian nation was modeled on the Gospel, and in its conformity to Christ's commandments exceeded even the other Christian nations of the time. He reposed in peace in 1015, leaving behind a kingdom that grew to be the largest Orthodox nation in the world.

 Ilya Glazunov

Eternal Russia

 Moscow State Art Gallery

Ilya Glazunov (10 June 1930 – 9 July 2017) was a Russian artist from Saint Petersburg. He was the founder of the Russian Academy of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture in Moscow where he also served as a rector up until his death. He held the title of People's Artist of Russia.


Ilya Glazunov's paintings have mostly historic or religious themes.

As a child, Glazunov attended a children's school of arts, and later a secondary art school in the historical district of Petrogradskaya Storona.

During the Great Patriotic War he survived the Siege of Leningrad. In 1942 the then-eleven-year-old was transported from besieged Leningrad along the Road of Life. In 1944 he returned to Leningrad and studied in the Leningrad Secondary Art School. From 1951 to 1957 he studied art at the I. Repin Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture.

IGlazunov's success at the International Competition of Young Artists in Prague prompted the opening of his first single exhibition in Moscow in 1957. Soon after in the 1960s, he traveled to Italy for the first time to paint the portraits of many famous actors and actress, including Gina Lollobrigida and Anita Ekberg. He also painted portraits of many political leaders. In 1978, Glazunov started teaching in the Moscow University of Art. In 1987 he founded the Russian Academy of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture.

During the 1970s he stood against the general plan for restoration of Moscow that threatened to ruin part of the historic center of Moscow. The project was made public, then heavily criticized and, as a result, was cancelled. This also led to the creation of the civil committee that monitored other reconstruction plans. Glazunov was one of the co-founders of the All-Russian Society for Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments.


Glazunov died from heart failure on 9 July 2017 at the age of 87. More on Ilya Glazunov

Please visit my other blogs: Art Collector, Mythology, Marine Art, Portrait of a Lady, The Orientalist, Art of the Nude and The Canals of Venice, Middle East Artists, and 365 Saints, also visit my Boards on Pinterest

Images are copyright of their respective owners, assignees or others. Some Images may be subject to copyright

I don't own any of these images - credit is always given when due unless it is unknown to me. if I post your images without your permission, please tell me.

I do not sell art, art prints, framed posters or reproductions. Ads are shown only to compensate the hosting expenses.

 If you enjoyed this post, please share with friends and family.

 Thank you for visiting my blog and also for liking its posts and pages.

 Please note that the content of this post primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online.

09 Works, Today, July 11th, is Saint Olga's day, her story in art #192

Mikhail Vasilyevich Nesterov

St. Olga. Holy Princess Olga

Mural sketch of St. Vladimir's Cathedral in Kiev

Oil on Canvas

104x39.5 cm

Private collection

Mikhail Vasilyevich Nesterov (1 May 1862 – 18 October 1942) was a major representative of religious symbolism in Russian art. He was a pupil of Pavel Chistyakov at the Imperial Academy of Arts, but later allied himself with the group of artists known as the Peredvizhniki. His canvas The Vision of the Youth Bartholomew (1890–91), depicting the conversion of medieval Russian Saint Sergei Radonezhsky, is often considered to be the earliest example of the Russian Symbolist style.

From 1890 to 1910, Nesterov lived in Kiev and Saint Petersburg, working on frescoes in St. Vladimir's Cathedral and the Church on Spilt Blood, respectively. After 1910, he spent the remainder of his life in Moscow, working in the Marfo-Mariinsky Convent. As a devout Orthodox Christian, he did not accept the Bolshevik Revolution but remained in Russia until his death, painting the portraits of Ivan Ilyin, Ivan Pavlov, Ksenia Derzhinskaya, Otto Schmidt, and Vera Mukhina, among others. More on Mikhail Nesterov

Saint Olga, also called Helga or Saint Olga of Kiev, (born c. 890—died 969, Kiev), was the first recorded female ruler in Russia and the first member of the ruling family of Kiev to adopt Christianity. She was canonized as the first Russian saint of the Orthodox Church and is the patron saint of widows and converts.

Viktor Mikhailovich Vasnetsov, (1848–1926)

The Invitation of the Varangians: Rurik and his brothers arrive in Staraya Ladoga, c. 1909

House-Museum of Viktor Vasnetsov, Moscow

Viktor Mikhaylovich Vasnetsov (May 15 (N.S.), 1848 – July 23, 1926) was a Russian artist who specialized in mythological and historical subjects. He is considered the co-founder of Russian folklorist and romantic nationalistic painting, and a key figure in the Russian revivalist movement.

From the age of ten, Viktor studied in a seminary in Vyatka. During his seminary years, he worked for a local icon shopkeeper. 


Having graduated from the seminary, Viktor decided to move to Saint Petersburg to study art. He auctioned his paintings, in order to raise money required for the trip to the Russian capital. In August 1867 Viktor entered the Imperial Academy of Arts.

He won a bronze medal at the World Fair in London (1874).

In 1876 Viktor moved to Paris where he studied classical and contemporary paintings, academist and Impressionist alike.

In the late 1870s Vasnetsov concentrated on illustrating Russian fairy tales and the epic narrative poem Bylinas, executing some of his best known pieces. 

In 1884-1889 Vasnetsov was commissioned to paint frescos in the St Vladimir's Cathedral of Kiev. This was a challenging work which ran contrary to both Russian and Western traditions of religious paintings. More on Viktor Mikhaylovich Vasnetsov

Her parents were Varyags, better known as the Norse Vikings who settled Russia; and ruled the medieval state of Kievan Rus', and settled among many territories of modern Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine, and formed the Byzantine

Little is known about her life before her marriage to Prince Igor I of Kiev and the birth of their son, Svyatoslav.

Like all rising empires, Kievan Rus’ had grown at the expense of its neighbours and one tribe, the Drevlians, had grown wary of their smothering embrace.

Klavdy Lebedev, (1852–1916)

Prince Igor collects tribute from the Drevlyans in 945

Oil on canvas

I have no further description of this artwork at this time

Klavdy Vasiliyevich Lebedev (October 16 (28), 1852 – September 21 (N.S. October 4), 1916) was a Russian painter, a member of the realist artist group The Wanderers.

Lebedev came from a peasant family, studied at the Stroganov Moscow State Academy of Arts and Industry and the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture under Vasily Perov and Evgraf Sorokin. From 1890 he taught there.

In 1881 he was awarded a large silver medal of the Imperial Academy of Arts and received the title of a class artist. Member of The Wanderers group. The title of academician of painting of the Imperial Academy of Arts (1897). The title of full member of the Academy of Arts (1906).

Full-time professor of the Academy of Arts (1894–1898). More on Klavdy Lebedev

The relationship between the Drevlians and Kievan Rus’ was complex – they had joined the Rus’ in military campaigns against the Byzantine Empire and paid tribute to Igor’s predecessors, but stopped in 912 when the previous prince died and instead paid this glorified protection money to a local warlord.

Igor’s attempted to restore his privileges in 945 with a trip to their capital of Iskorosten, in Northern Ukraine. This visit was a slap in the face and the Drevlians fought back, seizing the prince and murdering him in a gristly display. They had bent down two birch trees to the prince’s feet and tied them to his legs, then they let the trees straighten again, thus tearing the prince’s body apart.

Vasily Surikov

Princess Olga meets the body of Prince Igor, c. 1915

Gouache, watercolor and Italian pencil on paper

State Russian Museum, St. Petersburg.

Vasily Ivanovich Surikov (24 January 1848, Krasnoyarsk – 19 March 1916, Moscow) was a Russian Realist history painter of Siberian origin. Many of his works have become familiar to the general public through their use as illustrations.

In 1859, his father died of tuberculosis so the family were forced to rent the second floor of their house to survive financially. He began drawing while attending the district school and was encouraged by the local art teacher. His first formal work dates from 1862, but his family could not afford to continue his education and he became a clerk in a government office. This brought him into contact with the Governor of Yenisei, who was able to find him a patron.

In 1868, he was unable to qualify for admission to the Imperial Academy of Arts, so he studied at the drawing school of the Imperial Society for the Encouragement of the Arts. 

From 1869 to 1875, he studied with Pavel Chistyakov, Bogdan Willewalde and Pyotr Shamshin, winning several medals. 

In 1877, he received a commission to paint murals at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour and he moved to Moscow. He chose to remain in Moscow and began the series of historical paintings that would establish his reputation. 

In 1948, on the 100th anniversary of his birth, his estate in Krasnoyarsk became a museum. Two monuments have been erected there, in 1954 and in 2002. More on Vasily Ivanovich Surikov

Olga was the widow of Igor I, prince of Kiev. Because Igor’s son Svyatoslav was still a minor, Olga became regent of the grand principality of Kiev from 945 to 964.

The Drevians thought they were dealing with just another demure noblewoman who could be easily cowed and arrange to marry her to their own Prince Mal. Not only would they be free from paying tribute to the Kievan Rus’ – they would rule the Kievan Rus’.

The Drevians sent 20 of their best men to try and persuade Olga to marry the living symbol of her husband’s murder. Telling them to wait in their boat, she had a ditch dug and next morning had had the emissaries buried alive.

Bruni, Fyodor Antonovich, (1800-1875)

The Princess Who Buried People Alive, before 1839

Fyodor (Fidelio) Antonovich Bruni (10 June 1799, in Milan – 30 August 1875, in Saint Petersburg) was a Russian artist of Italian descent who worked in the Academic style.

His father, Antonio, was a Swiss Italian painter and art restorer who relocated to Russia in 1800 to work on a project at Saint Michael's Castle for Tsar Paul I. At the age of ten, he was enrolled at the Imperial Academy of Arts.He graduated in 1818 with the title "Artist Class XIV".

His father sent him for further studies in Italy. At the age of twenty-two, he created his first large-scale work. Ten years later, when the painting was shown in Saint Petersburg for the first time, it earned him the title of Academician. He was recalled to Saint Petersburg to work on a project at Saint Isaac's Cathedral and teach at the Academy. He arrived in 1836 and produced several works for the Kazan Cathedral as well. 

In 1838, he was able to return to Rome to finish his work . Two years later hemoved to Saint Petersburg where it was exhibited in one of the halls of the newly restored Winter Palace. Returning to Rome for a third time from 1841 to 1845, he produced twenty-five sketches that would be the basis for frescoes at Saint Isaac's Cathedral. 

In 1849, he became the custodian of the gallery at the Hermitage Museum and was sent abroad twice to acquire paintings for the collection there. Six years later, he became Rector of the Department of Sculpture and Painting at the Academy.


By the time of his death, he was an honorary Professor at the Florence Academy of Fine Arts and the Accademia di San Luca in Rome. More on Bruni, Fyodor Antonovich

Olga sent word back to Prince Mal that should would accept his proposal, but only if the Drevians sent a part of their great and good to accompany her back to their territory, after all it was important that the proud Keivan Rus’ see just how important this matchmaking was.

Unknown artist

Revenge of Princess Olga

Radziwill Chronicle

I have no further description of this artwork at this time

Despite not having heard from either of the missions they’d dispatched to Olga’s court, the Drevians set about preparing the feast and after drinking themselves insensible on mead, Olga’s soldiers put 5,000 of them to the sword.

Unknown artist

Olga burns the Drevian capital

Radziwill Chronicle

I have no further description of this artwork at this time

Olga returned to Kiev to prepare an army, and then finished off the survivors.

Unknown artist

Meeting of Olga of Kiev and emperor Konstantin,  c. 1040s - early 1050s

Sofia of Kiev cathedral

Emperor Konstantin VII Bagryanorodny, seated in the palace on the throne, and his two bodyguards, armed with spears and shields. On the right side is Princess Olga with women from her retinue. 

On top of the princess’s head, on top of a white transparent board, there is a stemma, but not a crown, which, by Byzantine law, could be worn only by empresses. In addition, Olga stands, while Konstantin sits. In accordance with court etiquette, in the presence of the emperor everyone was supposed to stand with arms crossed on their chest and lowering their sleeves. The right to sit under the emperor was considered an exclusive privilege, which was occasionally granted to crowned persons at a private audience More on this painting

In the 950s, Olga traveled to Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire, to visit Emperor Constantine VII. Once in Constantinople, Olga converted to Christianity with the assistance of the Emperor and the Patriarch.

Sergei Kirillov

The Baptism of Grand Princess St Olga, c. 1993

Oil on canvas

140x100

One of the triptych Holy Rus

Sergei Alekseevich Kirillov (1960 in Moscow, Soviet Union) is a leading modern Russian artist, who is focusing on historical paintings.

In 1984 he graduated from The Surikov Art Institute in Moscow, from the studio of Professor Dmitry Konstantinovich Mochalsky. His graduate work was depicting Peter the Great. His paintings are now regularly published in history classroom books, monographs of The History of Russia, and historical belletristic literature. Since 1987, 24 exhibitions of his paintings have been held in Moscow and other cities in Russia. More on Sergei Kirillov

Olga received the Patriarch's blessing for her journey home, and that once she arrived, she unsuccessfully attempted to convert her son to Christianity. However, her son agreed not to persecute those in his kingdom who did convert.

She was the first ruler of the Kievan Rus’ to adopt Christianity and Olga’s efforts to covert the rest of her people earned her the title Isapóstolos: “Equal to the Apostles.” Olga died from illness in 969. 

Please visit my other blogs: Art Collector, Mythology, Marine Art, Portrait of a Lady, The Orientalist, Art of the Nude and The Canals of Venice, Middle East Artists, and 365 Saints, also visit my Boards on Pinterest

Images are copyright of their respective owners, assignees or others. Some Images may be subject to copyright

I don't own any of these images - credit is always given when due unless it is unknown to me. if I post your images without your permission, please tell me.

I do not sell art, art prints, framed posters or reproductions. Ads are shown only to compensate the hosting expenses.

 If you enjoyed this post, please share with friends and family.

 Thank you for visiting my blog and also for liking its posts and pages.

Please note that the content of this post primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online.