Description of the painting by Alexei Savrasov “Pechersky Monastery near Nizhny Novgorod”

Description of the painting by Alexei Savrasov Pechersky Monastery near Nizhny Novgorod

Savrasov loved the Volga, its landscapes. With every free opportunity he tried to transfer all this beauty to the canvas. One of the largest paintings in size, which was dedicated to the Volga landscapes, is the “Pechersky Monastery near Nizhny Novgorod”. Today’s art historians in one voice say that this painting is a precursor of landscapes dedicated to the Volga by Levitan.

Peering into the picture, we see the view of the small town, most likely provincial. Before him spreads the water surface. There are many white clouds in the sky, the trees are swaying from the wind. In the distance you can see the roofs of houses. A white monastery is visible on the horizon. Having played on the game of colors – in the distance the sky is much lighter, the artist managed to select the building of the monastery, which is painted with light beige colors.

The history of this monastery goes back to the 14th century. Known for the fact that it contains the miraculous Kiev icon of the Mother of God, as well as a collection of rare manuscripts, old printed books, ancient monastic acts. To the place where Savrasov depicts it, the monastery was moved in 1595 from the years that had slipped into the Volga. At its original location, the Pechersky Monastery has stood since the beginning of the 14th century.

Initially, the first version of the already famous picture graduated P. M. Tretyakov. Further, Savrasov himself finished it. In 1871, he finished this version of the picture. Here the author managed to show his lively interest in old Russian architecture, as well as how he understood the scenic beauty of nature.


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Description of the painting by Alexei Savrasov “Pechersky Monastery near Nizhny Novgorod”