Label Text:
This drawing belongs to the many preparatory sketches Mikhail Nesterov produced for the murals of the Church of Alexander Nevsky in Abastumani, Georgia. Both the church and its interior decoration were commissioned by Nicholas II’s brother, Grand Duke Georgii Alexandrovich. At his insistence, Nesterov visited churches in Motsameta, Kutaisi, Mtskheta, and Tiflis (present-day Tbilisi) to study Georgian ecclesiastical painting, which the church in Abastumani was supposed to be inspired by. In total, the decoration comprised more than fifty compositions along with ornamental work. The program included depictions of saints whose names corresponded to those of the imperial family: St. Alexander Nevsky, St. George, Mary Magdalene, St. Nicholas of Myra, Queen Alexandra, St. Mikhail of Tver, and others. A Last Judgment scene, traditionally placed on the west wall, was omitted; in its place appeared an image of Christ on the throne surrounded by attendants.
Tags:
design; interiors; churches; sketches; Christianity Subjects:
Christianity; Church buildings; Design; interior; sketches; Watercolor painting Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=AC+2001.358 |
