Category Archive: Religion

The Holy Virgin. 1st half of the 17th c. Wood, carving, multi-coloured. John Baptist’s Catholic Church, Mstsibava, Vaukavysk district, Grodna region. Belarusian Monumental Cult Sculpture

Belarusian Monumental Cult Sculpture
According to historians, the cult sculpture on the territory of Belarus origins in the Paleolithic times. To early samples of the monumental sculpture of the ancient Slavs belonged to the figures of pagan gods, destroyed with the adoption of Christianity. Noteworthy, for Orthodox churches, volumetric plastic for many centuries remained unacceptable. A sculpture of Christian content could appear in Belarus not earlier than the end of the 14th century. However, even in the 15-16th centuries it was still very rare. Traditionally, masters decorated churches, both Orthodox and Catholic, with painting.
The earliest sculptural plot was the “Crucifixion”, usually located on the prelattic arch (girder) or at the altar of the church. Quite often under the cross with Jesus depicted the future Mother of God and the Apostle John. The collection of the Museum of Old Belarusian Culture includes sculptures of the 16th century. In particular, “Our Lady” and “Apostle John” from Volkovysk. The subtle features of Mary’s face resemble Renaissance images. Deep large folds of clothes have a Gothic origin, and a calm straight figure and a canonical hand gesture tell us about the connection with the icon painting tradition.
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Tondo Female portrait. 1465 glazed terracotta. National Museum of Bargello, Florence. Work by Italian Renaissance sculptor Luca della Robbia (1399 or 1400 – 23 February 1482), mainly remembered as a pioneer of colored glazed terracotta as a sculptural medium

Italian Renaissance sculptor Luca della Robbia
Sculptor and jeweler of the Renaissance, full name was Luca di Simone della Robbia, the founder of the dynasty of artists, he devoted his whole long life to the service of art. Born in Florence in 1399 or 1400, trained in textiles and as a goldsmith before sculpture, however, he became known as a prolific sculptor of the early Renaissance. Patronized by the Medici, he achieved fame and wealth through glazed terracotta artworks. He performed many works, which rightfully occupy a prominent place in the history of the sculpture of the Renaissance. Worked in stone and terracotta, he was the follower of the humanistic movement. Noteworthy, he invented a type of representation of the Virgin and Child shown half-length in white on a blue background that proved highly popular. Set up successful studio in Florence, he kept the formula of his tin glazes a secret. However, the technical formula soon became the basis of a flourishing business. Worked closely with his nephew Andrea della Robbia (1435–1525). Unfortunately, Luca’s successors tended to sentimentalize his warm humanity.
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Oakland Cemetery, Iowa City. Story behind Haserot Black Angel monument

Story behind Haserot Black Angel monument

You probably saw the image of this gloomy angel more than once. This is the black angel named Haserot and here is his story.
A black statue of an angel stands in Oakland Cemetery, in Iowa City. It stands over the graves of three people: a woman, her husband and her son. This statue has a rather strange look. Most of the angels in the cemetery usually stand with their heads raised and their wings spread, symbolically striving for paradise. However, the wings of the black angel are not straightened and he looks to the ground … to hell.
The Black Angel also has a very grim expression, with cold, strange eyes and empty eyelids. Many people are nervous. Visitors to the cemetery often said that they feel uncomfortable in the immediate vicinity of the statue. They claim that they thought the statue was following them.
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Happy Well of Angels in St. Petersburg

Happy Well of Angels in St. Petersburg

In general, angels live only in heaven. However, immortalized in monuments, angels may live anywhere – from cemeteries and crypts to gardens and streets. For instance, St. Petersburg angels, known also as Well Angels. By nature, the angels are patrons and protectors of people. And descend from heaven to earth St. Petersburg angels can help the suffering and will not let die of thirst. They are guardian angels of the source with life-giving moisture. According to the locals, if you wash your face with the water from this fountain, you will feel better. Some even believe in the full recovery of possible illness. Besides, you can make a wish – and it will come true.
Undoubtedly, the Fountain “Well of Angels” is one of the unusual architectural sights of St. Petersburg. The sculptural composition around the fountain consists of several figures. In particular, a beautiful girl and five angels who help her to draw water in the well.
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Fragment of the Miraculous Christ tombstone sculpture at the Novodevichy Cemetery

Miraculous Christ tombstone sculpture at the Novodevichy Cemetery
Sometimes it happens that the tombstone becomes famous, but we know very little about who lies beneath it. And this what has happened with the grave of AA. Vershinina. The road to the figure of Christ is unmistakable even for those who are here for the first time and by chance. The grave of the unknown generaless Anna Vershinina at the Novodevichy Cemetery of St. Petersburg turned into a city legend and became a place of pilgrimage. A lot of people come to the bronze sculpture of Christ set here daily with the hope for help. Here come not only Petersburgers, but also inhabitants of other cities. In recent years, this statue has acquired so many rumors that it is almost impossible to separate the truth from fiction.
They say, being childless, Anna Vershinina was very sad that after her death no one will remember her. Once, in a dream, she saw the Savior, who prompted to buy a place in the cemetery beforehand and set up his bronze image there – and then every passerby would certainly pray here. And the place in the cemetery had to be bought in advance, and who of the spouses will first go to the Lord, he will rest here.
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Looking at you wooden idol. Slavic deities wooden sculpture in Togliatti. Work by 70-old pensioner Evgeny. Russia

Slavic deities wooden sculpture in Togliatti

In the depths of the forest, behind the sanatorium “Prilesye”, that is in Togliatti there is a pagan temple. It is here the amazing sculptures of Slavic idols decorate the forest. Their author – Evgeny, a 70-year-old woodcarver. According to the reviews of those who met and talked with him, Evgeny is friendly and quite cheerful. He works at the behest of the soul, as the Master should. He is constantly in the open air, and lives in a tent in this forest. Unfortunately, vandals spoil and even burn his sculptures from time to time. “They destroy and burn, and I’m building again,” he said with a smile.
The scale of his work, of course, is impressive. This is a titanic, uninterrupted work. Many dozens of pine trunks processed over the years can impress anyone. In search of deadly trees Evgeny passes many kilometers away from his tent. To deliver the trunk to the right place, he sometimes has to spend up to 4-6 hours a day. Chisel, ax, chainsaw – these are the main tools for the master. Meanwhile, in addition to carving wood, he also engages in healing. People who wish to get rid of infertility, from male impotence, and from other ailments visit him.
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Fragment of wooden statue of Prince Kaaper, or ‘village head’. Repository of the soul – Egyptian Ancient Realistic Sculpture

Repository of the soul – Egyptian Ancient Realistic Sculpture
… When archaeologists took a wooden sculpture out of the dungeon, the peasants crowded near the excavations gasped: “This is our village head!”
Before them was an elderly man with a staff in his hand. Full of dignity, he looked calmly and indifferently over the people around him. Scientists Egyptologists and called this statue – “Rural elder”. However, in fact, exact face of Prince Kaapert, who lived … four and a half thousand years ago!
The darkness of the dungeon hid from the human eyes paired statues of Prince Rahotep and his wife Nofret for almost five millennia. During this time, civilizations and states disappeared and emerged, humanity entered the age of space flights, even the recent achievements of science and technology became obsolete, and works of art created in immemorial times are still full of life and immense power of influence.
The more you look at them, the more they fascinate. It seems that these are living people who are thinking about something. The genius of the sculptor vividly captures the beauty and femininity of Nofret, the manly and tragic image of Rakhotep.
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