"Healing of the Paralytic in the Pool of Bethesda" in Western European Art and Russian Religious Painting of the 17th–19th centuries Cover Image

Трактування сюжету зцілення розслабленого в західноєвропейському Воробйова О. І. та російському релігійному живописі XVIІ–XIX століть
"Healing of the Paralytic in the Pool of Bethesda" in Western European Art and Russian Religious Painting of the 17th–19th centuries

Author(s): Nataliya Kravchenko
Subject(s): Christian Theology and Religion, Visual Arts, 17th Century, 18th Century, 19th Century, Sociology of Art
Published by: Національна академія керівних кадрів культури і мистецтв
Keywords: Christian story "Healing relaxed is considered at a sheep bathhouse"; fine art; religious painting; composition; artistic technique;

Summary/Abstract: In this article the image of Christian plot of "Healing relaxed is considered at a sheep bathhouse" in the West-European art and Russian religious painting of 17th – 19th of century In detail Christian legend of "Healing relaxed" is described and also a place is marked, where this event was . The oldest images of this plot are considered in the article, beginning from the Byzantium art of 5th – 6th of century the bright standard of that is a mosaic with the stage of "Healing relaxed" in the temple of The Basilica of Sant’ Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna. An example of the Bulgarian miniature of 14th of century is also made with the stages "Bathhouse Bethesda in Jerusalem" and "Healing relaxed", where the image of this plot has the conditional ornamented character yet. The bright standard of the Russian mural painting of 16th of century is an image of this plot at work of prominent icon-painter Dionisiy. In the fresco Dionisiy uses a plot, where the relaxed is represented twice: lying and in the moment of healing, when he goes along with a bed on a back. In this fresco talent of Dionisiy opens up as a masterly artist at one time. For the greater opening of theme of "Healing relaxed" in a fine art to the article the examples of the Russian icon-painting are driven with the image of this plot. In works of icon-painting with the stage of "Healing relaxed" sharpedged building is represented with the vertical arched opening and chaotic natural landscape in the background. Here image of saints and relaxed sufficiently static. In the pose of Jesus Christ the set motion is in the characteristic gesture of benediction. An image is built on dark local tones. It should be noted that to the second half of 16th of century of image of this plot it is possible to find only in works of the sacral painting and in a monumental temple art. In the West-European art the Spanish artist Bartolomeo Esteban Murillo calls to this theme. His picture is "Christ зцілює of patient in a bathhouse Bethesda" presents the bright standard of picturesque work on this religious plot. The reception of "sfumato" is masterly used in a picture, in the image of faces of Jesus with apostles and also body paralysed. An artist satiates composition various genre details, bringing in the same in Christian legend of certain vital reality. The picture of 18th of century of the English author William Hogart is considered in this article. In his work this subject is interpreted ancient myth. In the French art of 19th of century the theme of "Healing relaxed" is presented by engraving of Gustav Dore. Composition of engraving is sufficiently compressed, but main personages strike a look the force and grandeur. Character of Christ is shown almost monumentally, his figure reminds a sculptural statue aught. In the picture of the Danish artist Carl Bloch "Healing Flea is in a bathhouse Bethesda" character of Jesus Christ, the figure of that is surrounded by light, attracts attention. The image of Jesus Christ and patient is built on the contrasting of light and shade. Thus an author tried to show meeting of two opposite personalities : justness and sinfulness, light and darkness. Original is interpretation of this subject in work of Robert Beytman. Bathhouse – place of event, an artist depicts from an unusual side. Angel and suffering represented by an artist in a realistic manner. An author marks the idea of sympathy. In the second half of 19th of century the Russian artists begin to work in the genre of historical picture on a christian plot. They interpret biblical stories as historical events in the images of that sacral maintenance disappears gradually are certain. The prime example of such linens is a picture the "Sheep bathhouse" of Nikolay Bruni. This image primitively did not get ritual religious value. The image of nimbus disappears in the figure of Jesus Christ. By volume interpretation of clothing of figures, material invoice of objects, strikes. In a picture a spiritual contact is felt between Christ and relaxed, a moment is shown there. Interesting interpretation of plot in the Russian religious painting is robot Jan Sionglinsky the "Sheep bathhouse". Consideration of history of image of Christian plot of "Healing relaxed at a sheep bathhouse" in West-European and Russian artistic traditions showed that unlike sacral works, a clear iconography canon is absent in the considered pictures. In the image of Jesus Christ a nimbus and other signs of his Divinity, figure disappear given by volume of, architectural reasons and natural landscapes are shown with the elements of naturalism. Substantially general lines in the image of theme of "Healing relaxed" it is difficult to find on the example of works of the West-European and Russian artists. It is explained by that authors unreserved a church canon, in the work follow the personal perception of the world and understanding of the represented event. Therefore among the considered works there was not similar after composition or stylistic signs of images of this plot. On the basis of the conducted study of art analysis in sex the features of interpretation of this plot were educed in history of fine art. On the example of the known West-European and Russian sights of painting their composition and artistic receptions are analysed, and also world view basis of the considered works is reflected.

  • Issue Year: 2013
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 153-158
  • Page Count: 6
  • Language: Ukrainian