An American's Appreciation for Russian Art

Recently, a curator at a Russian art museum asked me to write an article on why, as an American, I have become an admirer and collector of Russian art. My thoughts come from my background as a political conservative and a Protestant of the 16^th century Reformed tradition.

My appreciation for Russian art is deeper than its mere beauty; it is rooted in respect for the Russian people and Russia’s great and historic Christian faith.

My appreciation is also political, for, in my early twenties, I was introduced to the true history of the origins of the Bolshevik Revolution, a history of which Americans generally have little knowledge.

That history is based on the fact that the horrific and bloodletting tyranny of the Russian church and people from 1917 and beyond was orchestrated and funded by western financiers in New York, London, and Berlin. The Bolshevik Revolution and its 74 years of human suffering have given me a heart for the Russian people and a prayer that God would one day restore a free and Christian Russia to greatness among the nations.

Thus, when I was introduced to Russian historical art by the website Russian Faith, I had an immediate interest, especially in the paintings of Ilya Glazunov and Pavel Ryzhenko. These two Russian artists often portray on their canvas the critical elements of life, religion, and politics within a Russia’s historical context.

ILYA GLAZUNOV  

I have visited the world-renowned gallery at Bob Jones University in South Carolina featuring Christian art, where I have seen many great and famous paintings, but none that resemble those of Ilya Glazunov. His incredible design is unique in the world of art. Glazunov’s publisher, Victor Rozhkov, states, “Ilya Glazunov’s art reflects the struggle between good and evil in our time and it cannot fail to move our hearts and souls.”

In the struggle for Russia, Glazunov boldly paints what is unthinkable and censored to an American and western audience –the inhumane and anti-Christian influence of international Jewry and Freemasonry. This is true, especially in his paintings Destruction of the Church on Easter Eve, Eternal Russia, and The Great Experiment. In these, as well as other works, he paints the many faces of Russia’s past and present. Drawing upon his vast knowledge of history and prominent cultural figures, Glazunov, in his signature style, assembles a collage of faces and depictions that convey a captivating message which causes one to stare at length and contemplate who is behind each image and what is the object’s history.

Destruction of the Church on Easter Eve

Eternal Russia

The Great Experiment

The Viewing of the Troops (Kulikovo)

       

While many of Glazunov’s paintings are complex and highly detailed, others gain their beauty from their simplicity and raw emotion. This is demonstrated in his 1980 painting, The Viewing of the Troops (Kulikovo). The facial expressions of the wife and young daughter as they wonder if they will ever see their husband and father again capture the emotions of every woman and child who has seen a husband or father go off to war. This work conveys how much I despise these pointless modern wars and the devastation they cause so many families. The emotion in the painting stirs the mind and echoes Glazunov’s quote: “True art is eternal and always contemporary and is a mighty influence on the human soul.” I never tire of looking at this painting.

Glazunov’s genius is much more than a skillful hand, for he paints with the mind of a historian and philosopher; he paints with a Russian heart and soul. This incredible unique blend of talent and understanding should award him the title “Keeper of Russian Culture.”

PAVEL RYZHENKO

Though Pavel Ryzhenko has a different artistic quality than Glazunov, he, nonetheless, creates art that is both beautiful and relevant to Russian history and life.

My favorite work of his is The Last Inspection, in which he paints Nicholas II’s last review of his faithful Cossacks, probably in the winter of 1917. The painting emanates great emotion because the viewer immediately knows what is soon to come regarding the fate of the czar, his family, and all of Russia. Ryzhenko projects old Christian Russia, which will soon be lost to the radicals and revolutionaries who will undo the old order. Nicholas’s faithful protectors realize that their life and their beloved Russia will never return to what it once was.

The Last Inspection

The skill of a great historical artist is to create a real-life image of an event that gives the admirer not only historical understanding but also allows his imagination to flow as though he was there. Ryzhenko achieved this in The Last Inspection.

I close by stating my long-time hope that, one day, there will be a permanent cultural and political bond between the people of the United States and the Russian Federation. The great obstacle to achieving this is the same globalist financial forces that almost destroyed Russia in their revolution of 1917, which are still at work creating another artificial conflict between two countries that share a common Christian heritage.

Because of the current political tension, any sort of alliance must come from the people directly and be rooted in our common Trinitarian Christian faith.

For this kind of cooperation to occur, there must first be a mutual understanding of our histories, faith, and culture. Perhaps a starting point to bridge the gap would be for an American audience to acquire an appreciation of the Russian faith, life, and history captured in the art of Ilya Glazunov and Pavel Ryzhenko.