Andrei Rublev

Britannica Concise Encyclopedia: Andrei Rublev

(born c. 1360, Russia — died 1430) Russian painter. He was trained wholly in the stylized tradition of Byzantine art, but to the more humanistic approach it had adopted by the 14th century he added a truly Russian element, a complete unworldliness that distinguishes his work from that of his predecessors and successors. He assisted Theophanes the Greek in decorating the Cathedral of the Annunciation in Moscow. The greatest of medieval Russian icon painters, he is best known for The Old Testament Trinity (c. 1410). He became a monk fairly late in life.

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Russian History Encyclopedia: Andrei Rublev

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(c. 1360 - 1430), fifteenth century Russian artist.

Among all the known icon painters in Russian history, Andrei Rublev stands out as most prominent. Early in his life he joined the Trinity-Sergius Lavra Monastery, becoming a monk and a pupil of the artist Prokhor of Gorodets. Later he moved near Moscow, to the Spaso Andronikov Monastery, where he died on January 29, 1430, after painting frescoes in that monastery's Church of the Savior. He was buried in the altar crypt beside the artist, Daniel Chorni.

Rublev is considered the founder of the Moscow School of painting. The earliest reference to Rublev's work is to paintings in the Annunciation Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. Here in 1405 he worked with the eminent Theophanes the Greek (who strongly influenced his style) and the monk Prokhov of Gorodets. On the iconostasis (the screen separating the church nave from the altar area) Rublev is credited with the scenes of the annunciation to the Virgin Mary and scenes from the life of Christ that show his nativity, baptism, transfiguration, the resurrection of Lazarus, entry into Jerusalem, and the presentation in the Temple.

Rublev worked extensively outside of Moscow as well. In about 1400, in the Dormition Cathedral on Gorodok in Zvenigorod, Rublev, assisted by Daniel Chroni, painted a number of wall frescoes, including those of St. Laurus and St. Florus, and several panel icons, including Archangel Michael, Apostle Paul, and the Christ. In the Cathedral of the Dormition in Vladimir, assisted again by Daniel Chorni, he painted frescoes of the Last Judgment in 1408. He is also credited with five surviving icons.

The last reference to Rublev's work refers to his work on the iconostasis in the Cathedral of the Trinity at Zagorsk (Trinity-Sergius Monastery), where he was assisted once again by Daniel Chorni. It was here that he produced his most famous icon, the Old Testament Trinity (1411; now in the Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow). Ordered by Nikon and painted in honor of Father Sergius of Radonezh (d. 1392), it was originally displayed at the latter's grave. The ethereal and beautifully-integrated group of three angels has never been surpassed. Of the other icons on this iconostasis, Rublev was credited with those depicting the Archangel Gabriel, St. Paul, and the Baptism of Christ. Rublev is believed to have painted two more icons for other venues: a Christ in Majesty (c. 1411, now at the Tretyakov Gallery) and a version of the Vladimir Mother of God (c. 1409, Vladimir Museum).

Rublev's fame continued to increase after his death. The Church Council held in Moscow in 1551 prescribed the official canon for the correct representation of the Trinity: " to paint from ancient models, as painted by the Greek painters and as painted by Andrei Rublev." It is the other-worldly, spiritual, and contemplative quality of Rublev's painting that sets him apart from his contemporaries. His Old Testament Trinity has had by far had the strongest impact on subsequent icon painting up through the twentieth century, not only in the Russian Orthodox Church, but in Catholic and Protestant circles as well. In Soviet Russia, gifted filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky produced an epic-length, classic film titled Andrei Rublev in 1966. It was widely acclaimed, and continues to be shown in art theaters and at Russian conferences.

Bibliography

Lazarev, Viktor Nikitich. (1966). Old Russian Murals & Mosaics from the XI to the XVI Century. London: Phaidon.

Lazarev, Viktor Nikitich. (1980). Moscow School of Icon Painting. Moscow: Iskusstvo.

—A. DEAN MCKENZIE

Wikipedia: Andrei Rublev

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St. Andrei Rublev
Russian Icon of St. Andrei Rublev, holding one of his works
Venerable Father (Prepodobne)
Born	1360-1370
Died	29 January 1427 or 1430, Andronikov Monastery, Moscow
Venerated in	Eastern Orthodox Church
Canonized	June, 1988, Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra by Holy Governing Synod of the Moscow Patriarchate
Feast	29 January, 4 July
Attributes	Clothed as an Orthodox monk, often shown holding an icon

For the 1966 Russian film, see Andrei Rublev (film).

Andrei Rublev (Russian: Андре́й Рублёв, also transliterated Andrey Rublyov and other permutations,^[1] born in the 1360s, died 1427 or January 29, 1430) is considered to be the greatest medieval Russian painter of Orthodox icons and frescoes.

1 Biography
2 Selected works
3 References
4 See also
5 External links

Biography

There is little information about his life. It is not known where he was born. Andrei Rublev probably lived in the Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra near Moscow under Nikon of Radonezh, who became hegumen after the death of Sergii Radonezhsky (1392).

The first mention of Rublev is in 1405 when he decorated icons and frescos for the Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Moscow Kremlin in company with Theophanes the Greek and Prokhor of Gorodets. His name was the last of the list of masters as the junior both by rank and by age. Theophanes was an important Byzantine master who moved to Russia, and is considered to have trained Rublev.

Chronicles tell us that in 1408 he painted (together with Daniil Cherni) the Assumption Cathedral in Vladimir and in 1425–1427 the Cathedral of St. Trinity in the Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra. After Daniil's death Andrei came to Moscow's Andronikov Monastery where he painted his last work, the frescoes of the Savior Cathedral.

He is also believed to have painted at least one of the miniatures in the Khitrovo Gospels.

Rublev's famous icon of the Trinity.

The only work authenticated as entirely his is the icon of the Trinity, ca. 1410 (shown at left), currently in the Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow. It is based upon an earlier icon known as the "Hospitality of Abraham" (illustrating Genesis 18). Rublev removed the figures of Abraham and Sarah from the scene, and through a subtle use of composition and symbolism changed the subject to focus on the Mystery of the Trinity.

In Rublev's art, two traditions are combined: the highest asceticism and the classic harmony of Byzantine mannerism. The characters of his paintings are always peaceful and calm. After some time his art came to be perceived as the ideal of Church painting and of Orthodox iconography.

Andrei died at Andronikov Monastery on January 29, 1430 (this date is still questionable). His work has influenced many different artists including Dionisy. At the Stoglavi Sobor (1551) Rublev's icon style was announced as a model for church painting. He was canonized a saint in 1988 by the Russian Orthodox Church. The church celebrates his feast day on January 29^[2] and July 4.^[3]^[4]^[2]

Since 1959 the Andrei Rublev Museum has been open at the Andronnikov Monastery, displaying the art of his works and his epoch.

In 1966, Andrei Tarkovsky made his celebrated film, Andrei Rublev loosely based on the artist's life, which shows him as "a world-historic figure" and "Christianity as an axiom of Russia's historical identity"^[5] during a turbulent period in the history of Russia.

Selected works

Nativity of Jesus, 1405 (Cathedral of the Annunciation, Moscow Kremlin)	Baptism of Jesus, 1405 (Cathedral of the Annunciation, Moscow)	Annunciation, 1405 (Cathedral of the Annunciation, Moscow)	Version of the Theotokos of Vladimir, ca. 1405
St. Michael, 1408 (Iconostasis at Dormition Cathedral, Vladimir)	St. Gabriel, 1408 (Dormition Cathedral, Vladimir)	St. Andrew the First-called, 1408 (Dormition Cathedral, Vladimir)	St. Gregory the Theologian, 1408 (Dormition Cathedral, Vladimir)
Theotokos from Deësis, 1408 (Dormition Cathedral, Vladimir) Some think this may be the work of Theophanes the Greek	St. John the Theologian, 1408 (Dormition Cathedral, Vladimir)	St. John the Baptist, 1408 (Dormition Cathedral, Vladimir)	Savior in Glory, 1408 (Dormition Cathedral, Vladimir)
Harrowing of Hell, 1408-1410 (Vladimir)	Christ the Redeemer ca. 1410 (Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow)	Ascension, 1408 (Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow)	Apostle Paul, 1410s (Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow)

References

^ Getty Union Artist Name List, which prefers "Rublyov", but "Rublev" is more commonly found
^ ^a ^b Saint Herman Calendar 2006, Platina CA: Saint Herman of Alaska Brotherhood, 2006, pp. 12, 56
^ Church Calendar (Russian)
^ ""Moscow Patriarchate Glorifies Saints"". Orthodox America. Issue 82, Vol. IX, No. 2, August, 1988. http://www.roca.org/OA/82/82e.htm. Retrieved 2008-03-16.
^ Hoberman, Jim. "Andrei Rublev". The Criterion Collection. http://www.criterion.com/asp/release.asp?id=34&eid=50&section=essay. Retrieved 2007-12-06.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Andrej Rublëv

Andrey Rublev Official Web Site
Rublev at the Russian Art Gallery
Selected works by Andrei Rublev: icons, frescoes and miniatures
"The Deesis painted by Andrey Rublev" from the Annunciation Church of the Moscow Kremlin - article by Dr. Oleg G. Uliyanov
Historical documentation on Andrei Rublev, compiled by Robert Bird
The Andrei Rublev Museum of Ancient Russian Art – Guide to visiting the museum
Venerable Andrew Rublev the Iconographer Orthodox icon and synaxarion

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Andrei Rublev

Contents

Biography

Selected works

References

See also

External links