версия для печати

Roerichs – The father and the son: Exhibition of paintings from the ICR funds

«Culture is reverence for Light. Culture is love for man.
Culture is the blend of life and beauty.
Culture is the synthesis of lofty and subtle achievements.
Culture is salvation. Culture is an engine. Culture is a heart»
Nicholas Roerich

	S. Roerich. Portrait of Nicholas Roerich. 1937

From June 2 till August 30, 2015 the International Centre of the Roerichs (Moscow) will host the unique exhibition of paintings and graphic arts of Nicholas and Svetoslav Roerich which will present about 100 works from the ICR funds.

Nicholas Roerich’s oeuvre (1874–1947) represents an exceptional phenomenon in the history of the world culture. He was the world-renowned artist, scientist, philosopher, public figure, writer, poet and traveler. In addition to the 7,000 picturesque paintings he left us a rich literary and scientific heritage: more than 30 printed scientific and philosophical works. The exhibition includes the paintings of early period of the artist, created in Finland, paintings of American period as well as works originated on the route of Central-Asian expedition and Himalayan Kullu valley in the last creative period of the artist’s oeuvre. The Russian period comprises the following paintings: «The Fortress Tower. Nizhny Novgorod» (From the Series of Architectural Sketches, 1903), a set design «The Great Sacrifice» for the ballet of I.F.Stravinsky «The Rite of Spring» (1912), the majestic Finnish castle Nyslott. Olavinlinna (1910s), poetic landscapes of the North including those based on the ideas of Scandinavian sagas.

The paintings designed in the USA introduce the audience to a period of creative activity of the artist in America which is little-known in Russia. Russian museums have very few paintings of this period in their collections. Mostly they are the parts of private collections and not available to the viewers. But even in USA the artist did not forget about native land and his aspirations to the East – India. This is evidenced by such paintings as «Language of the Forest» (1922), «Dream of the East» (1920), «Secret Signs» (1921). The beauty of North American nature is reflected in two works presented at the exhibition: «Santa Fe. New Mexico» (1921) and «Monhegan. Maine» (1922). The artist tried to emphasize everywhere the general cultural elements that can unite humanity even throughout the oceans and high mountain ranges.

The paintings of 1924–1947s period presented at the exhibition illustrate the route of Central-Asian and Manchurian expedition, beauty of Western Himalayan mountain ranges: the Kullu valley, Spity valley, Lahul valley and Ladakh valley. Among the expedition works there are such well-known paintings as «Ladakh. Le. Royal palace» (1925), «Source of the Indus» (1925), «Sasser Pass» (1925), «The Coming» (1927), a sketch for the painting «Red Horseman» (1927). Most part of works refers to the «Himalayas» series where according to Svetoslav Roerich, the son of the painter, «the saturation of our physical ability to convey not only the habit but the inner sounding – a sense, which cannot be made by anyone else» was reached. The master named the paintings of this series as «guiding temperas» and «panorama of Asian spaces». For his series of paintings «Himalayas» Roerich became known as «Master of mountains» in India. Due to the research and scientific work of the employees of the Museum named after Nicholas Roerich the paintings of «Himalayas» series will be presented with specified names and supplemented by canvases «The Guard» (1938), «The Mountain of Spiritual Repose» (1931), «Magic Carpet» (1935-1936), «Alarm» (1939), «She who leads» (1944), «The Messenger from the Himalayas» (1940), «The Sword of Ghessar Khan» (1943), «The ship of the desert» (1935–1936), «The Stone Image. Mongolia» (1935–1936), «Sissu» (1945) and other works.

Six graphic works of the artist reflecting the period of his oeuvre from the earliest student works to the paintings of 1930s are of considerable interest for the researchers. These are the sketches: «Meeting of the Elders» (1898), «The Blind» (1905), «The Master of Ceremonies» (1912), «Prayer» (1930), «The Maid at the Stake» (1930), «Saint Francis» (1931). These works will be displayed to the audience for the first time.

In many countries the Roerich name is a symbol of culture and creativity. He initiated the first international document on protection of cultural values of mankind – The Roerich Pact. The year 2015 marks the 80th anniversary of the Roerich Pact. While signing of the Pact the academician Nicholas Roerich was on the route of Manchurian expedition. This year also marks 80 years from ending of scientific expedition in Inner Mongolia.

N. Roerich. The Guard [The Isy Sphinx]. 1938		N. Roerich. Himalays [Bazgo. Ladakh]. 1940

Svetoslav Roerich’s oeuvre (1904–1993) is a supreme example of serving the true Art and the Beauty. His hand belongs to a few thousand paintings. An outstanding portraitist and landscape painter, he dedicated the whole life to the problem of studying of Beauty as the most important phenomenon in the process of the evolution of mankind. At the exhibition the viewer will manage to get acquainted with the landscape paintings of the artist, which reflected the bright palette of colors of Indian nature, sketches of series «My neighbors» a sketch for the triptych – «Crucified humanity» (1930–1940), Portrait of Nicholas Roerich, numerous paintings of sacred Himalayan peaks, and see the unique paintings of series «Subtle World». The artist, philosopher and scholar, in his paintings he reveals to us those invisible subtle worlds which are the integrated part of our existence, those subtle energies hidden to the eye that are sent by all bodies and objects – from the giant star to an ordinary stone.

Theme of the messenger and message which Svetoslav Roerich elaborated in different variants belongs to a special range of topics in his paintings. It is associated with the questions of cosmic evolution, perception of existence rules, spiritual perfection of mankind under the guidance of Teachers, standing on higher steps of evolution. This theme is presented by the sketch «Messenger» (1940).

A creative workshop of the artist is completely demonstrated by virtue of Svetoslav Roerich’s graphic works from the collection of Indian admirers of Svetoslav Roerich’s talent, which are presented for the first time.

S. Roerich. Messenger. Sketch. 1958		S. Roerich. The Rhythm of Invisible Life. From the «Subtle World» Series. Sketch. 1980s

Svetoslav Roerich was not only a master of painting, awarded the title of Honorary member of the Academy of Arts of the USSR, but also a scholar and a teacher, a thinker, a large public figure. Svetoslav Roerich brought to life the idea of a father and became the initiator of creation of the International Centre of the Roerichs. It was he who handed over to Russia a unique artistic and scientific heritage of his family, which is being carefully preserved in the Museum named after Nicholas Roerich. «We will aspire to Fine» – this motto was especially often heard from the mouth of the artist. He, like all the members of the Roerich family, always believed in the great future of his native land.

The International Centre of the Roerichs owns one of the largest collections of works of the artist. This organization which includes the Museum named after Nicholas Roerich was established by the initiative of Svetoslav Roerich, the younger son of the artist, who donated the heritage of the Roerich family to Russia in 1990.

Names of Nicholas and Svetoslav Roerich are among the discoverers of new ways in art. In their oeuvre the Father and the Son provide the unique synthesis of East and West, the organic combination of the «empyrean and earthly world» and by their example the modern and future generations will perceive our diversified life and will strive for Beautiful.

The exhibition is open until August 30, 2015 
Аddress: Moscow, Maly Znamensky 3/5. 
Working hours: from 11.00 am to 7.00 pm, except for Mondays.
For enquiries, please call: 8 (499) 271 34 17
Location map