Belik Zhanna

The Iconostasis of the Russian Church-monument in Leipzig: History of Creation, Historical and Cultural Significance

Abstract

The article studies a significant complex of icons painted in the Moscow workshop of Nikolay Sergeyevich Yemelyanov in 1912-1913, including a seven-tier iconostasis, altar and church images located in the St. Alexis church-monument of Russian Glory in Leipzig. The local row and several other icons are decorated with silver basma revetments made by the Imperial Court supplier “The Association of the Manufacture of Silver, Gold and Jewelry Khlebnikov's sons and Co.” Restorer and iconographer Nikolay Yemelyanov is known for his works at the Feodorovsky Cathedrals in St. Petersburg and in Tsarskoye Selo, the Imperial Family residence. The article introduces a large icon ensemble, which has been preserved in the “native interior” outside of Russia, to scientific circulation; the other identified Yemelyanov icons are kept in museum and private collections. The article contains archival biographical information about the iconostasis masters, in particular unknown earlier the date of birth of the iconographer on April 28, 1879. The style of icons reflects the processes of scientific study of Ancient Russian art occurred at that time and attempts to reconstruct medieval icon painting. At the same time, artistic processes went within the prevailing Art Nouveau style reflected in unexpected color scheme and composition, free operation and simultaneously comprehension of iconography. Yemelyanov icons replaced Mstera paintings and show a style of preferences of cultural elite, testify to the undoubted personal support of the style he developed at the highest state level. The Revolution interrupted artistic carrier of great iconographer. There are relatively few remaining icons; church-monument in Leipzig has the largest collection.

Keywords

Icon, iconostasis, iconographer Nikolay Sergeyevich Yemelyanov, Russian church-monument, Leipzig, St. Alexis Metropolitan of Moscow, St. Alexis church-monument of Russian Glory in Leipzig, Feodorovsky Cathedral, Khlebnikov, Basma, Russian style, art nouveau, Imperial Court supplier, Imperial Court supplier, architect V. A. Pokrovsky

References

1. Antonov V. V., Kobak A. V. Russkiye hramy i obiteli v Evrope (Russian churches and monasteries in Europe). St. Petersburg, 2005.
2. Basova M. V. Nikolay Sergeyevich Yemelyanov in Pravoslavnaya Enciklopediya. T. 18. Moscow, 2008. P. 438–440.
3. V. P. (Voronov Pavel Nikolaevich). Hram-pamyatnik na pole srazhenia pog Leiptsigom (Church-monument on the field of Leipzig battle) in Russkaya starina, 1913. Book 4. P. 5–6.
4. Kovarskaya S. Ya. Proizvedeniya moskovskoy yuvelirnoy firmy Hlebnikova (Artworks of Moscow Jewelry firm of Khlebnikov). Catalogue. Moscow, 2001.
5. Russky hram-pamyatnik v Leiptsige (Russian church-monument in Leipzig): collection of studies / complier and editor in chief: M. E. Dmitriyeva. St. Petersburg, 2015.
6. Gedächtniskirche zur Russischen Ehre in Leipzig 1813–1913–2013. St. Petersburg, 2015.
7. Russky hram-pamyatnik na pole Leiptsigskoy bitvy (Russian church-monument on the field of Leipzig battle) // Strannik. 1914, № 5. P. 784–789.
8. Fedotov A. S. Moskva v nachale 20 veka (Moscow of early 20th century). Moscow, 1997.
9. Yudin M. O. Zoloto-serebryanaya firma Ovchinnikova. Russky stil’ I natsionalnye traditsii v izdeliyah predpriyatiya. (Gold-silver firm of Ovchinnikov. Russian style and national traditions on factory production): PhD dissertation: 17.00.04]. – Moscow, 2016. – 239 p.

Information about the author

Belik Zhanna

Academic Degree: Candidate of Sciences* in Art Criticism;
Place of work: Central Andrey Rublev Museum of Ancient Russian Culture and Art; 10 Andron'evskaia sq., Moscow 105120, Russian Federation;
Email: zhanna_belik@mail.ru.

*According to the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) 2011, the degree of Candidate of Sciences (Cand.Sc.) belongs to ISCED level 8 — "doctoral or equivalent", together with PhD, DPhil, D.Lit, D.Sc, LL.D, Doctorate or similar.