Description of the painting by Viktor Vasnetsov “Song of Oleg’s Thing” (Oleg’s meeting with the magician)
Creations V. M. Vasnetsov everyone knows since childhood. His paintings served as illustrations for many well-known Russian people to fairy tales and epics. “Song about the Prophetic Oleg”, written by the artist in watercolor at the very end of the XIX century to the ballad of the same name A. S. Pushkin – one of them. Along with some other illustrations for this work, it was created on the centenary of the poet’s birth, for an academic publication.
Prophetic Oleg known to us as the legendary and perhaps the most mysterious Russian prince. He was a glorious warrior and a brave conqueror, whose reign marked the beginning of the flourishing of the ancient Russian state. Oleg ruled the Slavic lands for a long time and wisely, pursuing a very far-sighted policy, for which he was called the Prophetic. This nickname then migrated into Pushkin’s work. In the picture, Prince Oleg is depicted with his army, standing
The prince is dressed in chain mail, over which a purple cloak is thrown over with a golden brooch symbolizing the princely dignity. Gray hair is visible under the helmet – Oleg is no longer young, but he is proud and straight in the saddle. His sturdy white horse stands quietly, arching his neck. Behind the prince, the loyal squad are brave warriors, of different ages, in the same chain mail and cones as their leader.
The mighty army was stopped by a magician who suddenly emerged from the forest, and with a menacing look, tells Oleg the will of the pagan god Perun. The priest is dressed in a simple long shirt and bast shoes, in his hand – a staff. Raised left hand pointing gesture is a kind of symbol of power, which also applies to battle-hardened warriors. It can be seen that the gray-haired old man is not afraid of the prince and his squad. His whole appearance suggests that that the magician tells the soldiers something terrible and unexpected. The prince of Kiev listens to him attentively and with concentration, his eyebrows are sternly shifted. Probably, the prediction is not to his liking. The gloomy forest behind the back of the sorcerer only adds strength to his words. The light distance behind Oleg’s army contrasts with this forest.
What does the pagan priest tell Oleg? The further direction of the movement or, perhaps, he reveals the great warrior and the ruler of the Russian land, that soon he will have to accept the tragic death of his beloved horse? What does the pagan priest tell Oleg? The further direction of the movement or, perhaps, he reveals the great warrior and the ruler of the Russian land, that soon he will have to accept the tragic death of his beloved horse? What does the pagan priest tell Oleg? The further direction of the movement or, perhaps, he reveals the great warrior and the ruler of the Russian land, that soon he will have to accept the tragic death of his beloved horse?
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