‘Resurrection’ is a picturesque repetition of one of the monumental paintings in the Church of the Intercession of the Holy Mother of God at the Marfo-Mariinsky Convent. Before that, Mikhail Nesterov already tried himself as an icon painter working on the paintings of Vladimir Cathedral in Kiev and the paintings of the Church of St. Alexander Nevsky (Abastumani) in Georgia.
The Marfo-Mariinsky Convent in Moscow was built by architect Alexei Shchusev, commissioned by Grand Duchess Elizaveta Fedorovna of Russia. She donated funds for construction. According to Elizaveta Fedorovna’s plan, the abode had to assist those who were in need. They were often not just given food and clothes, but helped in employment and put in hospitals.
The Church of the Intercession is distinguished by an amazing unity of architecture and art design. Shchusev built a church in the style of old Novgorod-Pskov architecture. Mikhail Nesterov was entrusted with creating the church’s paintings, which were conceived in the style of Old Russian frescoes. The artist painted many preparatory sketches for the mural of the church in Italy, on Capri. Hence, the impressionist multi-coloring, the predominance of blue and purple shadings was new and unusual for church paintings. Today this work is attributed to the best examples of Russian religious painting of the early twentieth century.
The left side of the triptych depicts the morning of the Resurrection when after resting on Saturday, women came at dawn to Christ’s coffin carrying aromatic oil — myrrh used in Christian rites. In the central part of the triptych, an angel is sitting on a stone at the coffin. He heralds the Resurrection of Christ. The right part of the triptych is dedicated to the meeting of Mary and the resurrected Christ, who is depicted in shining white robes, with a nimbus. Mary Magdalene kindly kneeled before Christ, and then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
The color of the picture is saturated with cool gray-blue, blue, pearly pink tones. In the central part, at the angel’s feet, as a symbol of heavenly purity, are depicted shining white and pink flowers. At the feet of Christ and Mary Magdalene, there are bright, scarlet flowers symbolizing the resurrection in the right position.
The Marfo-Mariinsky Convent in Moscow was built by architect Alexei Shchusev, commissioned by Grand Duchess Elizaveta Fedorovna of Russia. She donated funds for construction. According to Elizaveta Fedorovna’s plan, the abode had to assist those who were in need. They were often not just given food and clothes, but helped in employment and put in hospitals.
The Church of the Intercession is distinguished by an amazing unity of architecture and art design. Shchusev built a church in the style of old Novgorod-Pskov architecture. Mikhail Nesterov was entrusted with creating the church’s paintings, which were conceived in the style of Old Russian frescoes. The artist painted many preparatory sketches for the mural of the church in Italy, on Capri. Hence, the impressionist multi-coloring, the predominance of blue and purple shadings was new and unusual for church paintings. Today this work is attributed to the best examples of Russian religious painting of the early twentieth century.
The left side of the triptych depicts the morning of the Resurrection when after resting on Saturday, women came at dawn to Christ’s coffin carrying aromatic oil — myrrh used in Christian rites. In the central part of the triptych, an angel is sitting on a stone at the coffin. He heralds the Resurrection of Christ. The right part of the triptych is dedicated to the meeting of Mary and the resurrected Christ, who is depicted in shining white robes, with a nimbus. Mary Magdalene kindly kneeled before Christ, and then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
The color of the picture is saturated with cool gray-blue, blue, pearly pink tones. In the central part, at the angel’s feet, as a symbol of heavenly purity, are depicted shining white and pink flowers. At the feet of Christ and Mary Magdalene, there are bright, scarlet flowers symbolizing the resurrection in the right position.
