Russia : Novgorod extra muros : Hanseatic fountain, Museum of Wooden Architecture, Yuriev Monastery
Veliky Novgorod, also known as Novgorod the Great, or Novgorod Veliky, or just Novgorod (meaning newtown), is one of the oldest and most important historic cities in Russia, with more than 1000 years of history. UNESCO recognized Novgorod as a World Heritage Site in 1992.
At its peak during the 14th century, the city was the capital of the Novgorod Republic and was one of Europe's largest cities.
The city is known for the variety and age of its medieval monuments. The foremost among these is the St. Sophia Cathedral, built between 1045 and 1050 under the patronage of Vladimir Yaroslavich, the son of Yaroslav the Wise. It's probably the oldest structure still in use in Russia and the first one to represent original features of Russian architecture (austere stone walls, five helmet-like domes). Its frescoes were painted in the 12th century and renovated several times, most recently in the nineteenth century. The cathedral features famous bronze gates, which now hang in the west entrance.
The Novgorod Kremlin, traditionally known as the Detinets, also contains the oldest palace in Russia (the so-called Chamber of the Facets, 1433), which served as the main meeting hall of the archbishops; the oldest Russian bell tower (mid-15th century), and the oldest Russian clock tower (1673). Among later structures, the most remarkable are a royal palace (1771) and a bronze monument to the Millennium of Russia, representing the most important figures from the country's history (unveiled in 1862).
St. Nicholas Cathedral, built by Mstislav I near his palace at Yaroslav's Court, Novgorod, contains 12th-century frescoes depicting his illustrious family.
In Vitoslavlitsy, along the Volkhov River and the Myachino Lake, close to the Yuriev Monastery, a museum of wooden architecture was established in 1964. Over twenty wooden buildings (churches, houses and mills) dating from the 14th to the 19th century were transported there from all around the Novgorod region.
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The St. George's (Yuriev) Monastery (Russian: Юрьев монастырь) is usually cited as Russia's oldest monastery. It stands in 5 kilometers south of Novgorod on the left bank of the Volkhov River near where it flows out of Lake Ilmen. The monastery used to be the most important in the medieval Novgorod Republic. It is part of the World Heritage Site named Historic Monuments of Novgorod and Surroundings.
According to legend, the monastery of wood was founded in 1030 by Yaroslav the Wise (whose Christian name was George); the first historically reliable reference to it is from the early 12th century when the stone building of the main church (the Church of St. George, Georgieveskii Church) was started in 1119 by Prince Vsevolod Mstislavich of Novgorod and Pskov and Hegumen (roughly equivalent to a western prior) Kyuriak (Kirik) and built by the master Peter.
By the first third of the 13th century the hegumen had been raised to the status of an archimandrite.
The monastery played the role of Novgorodian princes burial place.
The monastery was an important source for historical information on medieval Novgorod, as part of the Novgorod First Chronicle (the Synodal text) was compiled in the monastery.
The Church of St. George is one of the largest in Novgorod and its immediate environs. It is a tall (105 feet tall) white-stone church 85 feet long by 75 feet wide with three silver domes, which is somewhat unusual for Russian churches which usually have five (the main dome representing Christ, the four smaller ones representing the evangelists). Some remnants of the medieval frescoes remain, but most of the church was refrescoed in 1902. Among the frescoes is a large Christ Pantokrator in the main dome, a full-length portrait of Novgorodian Archbishop Feoktist, and another full-length (although smaller) portrait of Prince Vsevolod Mstislavich on the southwestern pier.
The monastery also has the Church of the Exaltation of the Cross in the northeastern corner of the monastery, with five blue domes and gold stars on it, built in the 18th century. The gateway into the monastery is crowned by a tall gold-domed tower which is visible from the city centre, including the Novgorod Kremlin two miles to the north.
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Located on the banks of Lake Myachino and the VolkhovRiver, at St. George Monastery there is an open-air museum of wooden architecture Vitoslavlitsy. This is one of the most picturesque places in the Novgorod region. Izbas (village houses), chapels and churches form streets like those in old Russian villages. Restorers managed to preserve the unique works of Novgorodian carpenters. The buildings on display are so magnificent that they need no introduction. To get to know how Russian people lived many years ago, one must visit any of the izbas.
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Russian Art - 8 Sculpture
Eighth video about the Russian Art serie. Any doubt? Send me a message.
Historia del Arte:
Land of the Art:
Main characteristic of russian sculpture is monumentality. Has a strong relation with its history and great dramatism. At the beginning it was not very developed due to the prohibition of idolatry. After the changes of Peter I, sculpture began to seem like european sculpture.
Attention: information here extracted from russian wikipedia. Could’t find english source. Suggestions welcome.
Ancient Russia
Scarce, mostly in reliefs in churches. Wood is favourite material.
Reliefs of St. George’s cathedral.
Reliefs in cathedral of Demetrius
Lyudogoschensky cross. Of wood.
Muscovite Period
Polychromed wooden sculptures.
St. George by Vasili Yermolin.
Relief of St. George and the dragon in Rostov Kremlin, XV century.
Relief of St. George and the dragon, XVII century.
John, archbishop of Novgorod.
St. Nicholas.
Imperial Russia - Baroque
Peter I the Great occidentalizes Russia. Interest in classical sculpture.
Summer garden. Full of sculptures. Monument to Ivan Krylov and Venus Tauride, found in excavations in Rome.
Neptune, from unknown author.
Carlo Rastrelli will work for the tsars. The portraits are developed. Peter I. Alexander Menshikov. Anna Ivanovna. Peter I in Mikhailovsky Castle.
In XVIII century baroque sculpture is dominant. More portraits. The Palace of Catherine (already appear in Imperial Period chapter) is full of sculptures. I put a detail of the facade and Atlas.
Nicolas François Guillet: Peter I, Shuvalov.
Fedot Shubin: Ekaterina II, Alexandr Golytsin
The master of all is Étienne Maurice Falconet, french sculpture who makes the Bronze Horseman, the amazing Monument to Peter I the Great.
Imperial Russia – Neoclassicism
Happens at the end of XVIII century.
Fedor Gordeev: Prometheus, tomb of Alexandr Golytsyn.
Ivan Martos: Actaeon copy and in the fountain of Peterhof.
Theodosius Shchedrin: Marsyas, Venus, Diane.
Ivan Prokofiev: Morpheo, Actaeon, Union of the Volkhov and Neva rivers.
Michael Kozlowski: Yakov Dolgorukov burning the decree, Polycrates, Alexander the Great’s vigil, Suvorov in Mars Field, Catherine II.
Samson Fountain in Peterhof: it has sculptures of many authors, among them, Kozlowsky and Martos.
XIX Century
It reflects the develop of the nation and the social concience of russian society. In 1812 happen the war against Napoleon, that generated great patriotism.
Admiralty: the first two images, about nymphs and a fame genius playing the victory.
Triumphal arch in Moscow.
Rostral columns: commemorative columns of a naval battle.
General Staff building: it is in front of Winter Palace.
Lady of milk with broken jug by Sokolov.
Project of tombstone of Kozlowski by Pimenov.
Minin and Pozharski, by Martos, a bronze statue in the Red Square in Moscow, in front of St. Basil cathedral. It commemorates these two persons because they created a voluntary army to end the Period of Troubles in 1612.
Boris Orlovsky: Kutozov and of Barclay of Tolly in Kazan cathedral, Alexander column (two images).
Fiodor Tolstoi: created medallions about the war of 1812.
Galberg: Faun, Portrait of Ivan Martos.
Ivan Vitali: relief in St. Isaac cathedral, Venus, Old fountain in Moscow.
Alexander palace sculptures: first image of the palace, Pimenov, Loganovsky, Kreytan, Podozerov.
Genre scenes: Boy in bath by Ivanov, Peasant in trouble by Chizhov, First Step by Kamensky.
Peter Klodt: one of the greatest. Nicholas I, to Ivan Krylov, in Anichkov bridge (the rest).
Millenium of Russia: patriotic monument to commemorate the 1000 years of russian state. General concept by Mikeshin. Appear many characters of russian history. Painting by Bogdan Villevalde.
Catherine II by Mikeshin, Chizhov and Opekushin.
Pushkin by Opekushin.
Ivan IV by Antokolsky.
XX Century
Ivan Fedorov by Volnukhin.
Pushkin by Robert Bach.
Alexander III by Trubetskoy.
Birth of Fabergé, animal scenes and little figures. Mazeppa by Nicholas Liberia, Cossack by Lanseray, Poodle by Fabergé (they have more animals).
Anna Golubkina: Portrait of Tolstoy, Old Age.
Alexander Matveev: tomb of Borisov-Mutasov.
Sergey Konenkov: Kamneboets, Torso, Nike.
XX Century – Soviet Period
Tatlin tower.
Monument to the Victims in Mars Field.
Lenin in House of Soviets by Anikushin.
Worker and Kolkhoznitsa by Mujina.
XX Century – Great Patriotic War
Liberator Warrior by Vucetic.
Michael Ephrain in Vyazma.
Chernyakhovsky by Tomsky.
1200 Guardians by Mikenas.
XX Century – End of century
Mamayev Kurgan.
Statue of Motherland: a very big statue, similar to a nike commanding the troops for war.
Music: Pólyushko-Pole by Irfan Kaya [Полюшко-Поле]
Photos taken in Google images.
No copyright infringement intended.
In search of old Russia - Trailer | englisch/english
This series delves deep into this more than thousand-year-old cultural history in Europe’s East. For the very first time, sensational footage, shot by the world’s best cameramen, presents a bird’s-eye view of the most important and most beautiful buildings of Old Russia. The
camera explores en detail art and ornamentation, mounted on high on these splendid structures centuries ago to the glory of God, far above the line of vision of humans. Authors familiar with Russian culture find the material for their stories beneath the roofs and golden onion-shaped
towers, which tell of old traditions, passions and visions. Russian and Ukrainian protagonists fill the stories, which encompass this unique culture
and architecture, time and again with their warmth, their love and a good portion of humour. They proudly present the old Russian legacy that during the World War and in the old Soviet Union days, constantly threatened to disappear.
1. St. Petersburg – The Legacy of the Tsars
2. St. Petersburg – The Magic of the White Nights
3. Novgorod – A Glorious Commercial City
4. Kiev – The Mother of all Russian Cities
5. The Golden Ring – The Splendour of Holy Russia