Flammariono idėjų atspindžiai Čiurlionio estetikoje ir tapyboje
Reflections of Flammarion’s Ideas in Čiurlionis’ Aesthetics and Painting

Summary/Abstract: The article is dedicated to the impact of the literary works and engravings of the French populariser of astronomy, Camille Flammarion, on the peculiarities of Čiurlionis’ world of aesthetical and pictorial images. It starts with a concise discussion about Flammarion’s area of creative activity, namely, the relationship of his theories with Theosophical and occult doctrines. The focus then follows to Čiurlionis’ interest in Flammarion’s ideas and various compendia of astronomy, cosmography, histories of civilization, religion and art. The article’s main attention is to the development of the outer spatial theme in the various stages of his artistic evolution. A comparative discussion of Flammarion’s and Čiurlionis’ visions of the structure of the universe, the Solar system, extra-terrestrial civilizations and forms of life in Mars and other planets reveals obvious similarities between their ideas and artistic imageries. Particular focus is given to the comparative analysis of the development of esoteric Theosophical and occult ideas in Flammarion’s books and Čiurlionis’ mature works of art. These mature works contain the “metaphysical painting” that developed along with his “Sonatic” period and were dominated by images of exotic civilizations influenced by esoteric teachings.

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