Painting "Church of the Intercession on the Nerl" by Gerasimov: history and description

Biography of the artist

Gerasimov Sergei Vasilievich was born in 1885, September 14, in Mozhaisk. Although he was from a peasant family, the gifted boy was able to enter the Stroganov Art School, where he studied fine arts from 1901 to 1907. Then he entered the School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, where he studied from 1907 to 1912. His teachers were K. A. Korovin, S. V. Ivanov.

In 1915, the artist built himself a house-studio, where he worked fruitfully. In his youth, Sergei Gerasimov painted mainly with watercolors. Using this technique, he was able to create an exquisite range of colors through light, free strokes. This style became characteristic of his works. The artist loved to paint landscapes, portraits, and turn to the motifs of folk life.

Gerasimov is called an exquisite landscape painter and lyricist by nature. Love for nature is visible in many of his paintings. It is reflected in the canvases “Spring Morning”, “The Ice Has Passed”, “Winter”, “Mozhaisk Landscapes” and many others. Gerasimov’s painting “The Church of the Intercession on the Nerl” was written with love for nature and respect for the people’s shrine.

After the revolution of 1917, many churches and monasteries were destroyed. The artist reflected the impressions of this in his work. He was able to pay tribute to the closed and devastated shrines by writing “The Church of the Intercession on the Nerl.”

The history of the construction of this temple goes deep into the past...

A little about the folk shrine

You can begin the description of the Church of the Intercession on the Nerl with the history of its creation. The exact date of construction is unknown, approximately 1158 or 1165. It is believed that the cathedral was erected in memory of the son of Grand Duke Izyaslav Andreevich. Later, when the Feast of the Intercession of the Virgin Mary began to be celebrated in Rus', the church began to be called the Church of the Intercession.

The shrine is located in a unique place. The temple was built on a man-made hill, surrounded by a water meadow. Previously, at this place the Nerl River flowed into the Klyazma, there was a water trade route.

When talking about the Church of the Intercession on the Nerl, the description of the temple can begin with its foundation. In ancient times, the waters of the river could rise 5 meters, so the building was built on a foundation that went far into the depths. It is lined with white stone, the walls are strictly vertical, almost square, decorated with carved reliefs. The building is of a cross-domed type, single-domed. Inside it are pillars, tapering upward. This allows the room to appear visually higher than it actually is.

The painting “Church of the Intercession on the Nerl” conveys the appearance of the temple, but without the smallest details; special emphasis is placed on nature. The time has come to talk in detail about the famous painting by Gerasimov.

Essay based on Baulin's painting Temple of the Intercession on the Nerl

About the author: Sergei Alekseevich Baulin (1904-1976) - Soviet painter. The main genres of his creative activity are portrait, landscape and still life. Baulin’s painting of the Church of the Intercession on the Nerl presents an architectural landscape. The church depicted on it, named after the Feast of the Intercession of the Virgin Mary, was built back in the twelfth century. It is a monument of Vladimir-Suzdal architecture.

First, the ancient architects had to build a hill. The area was very low, and the nearby Nerl and Klyazma rivers overflowed in the spring and flooded the entire territory. Then the hill was covered with earth, and a temple was built on the hill. Thanks to these architects, after so many centuries we have the opportunity to admire a beautiful architectural structure.

Essay based on Baulin’s painting The Church of the Intercession on the Nerl: description and analysis of the artistic canvas

In Baulin’s painting of the Church of the Intercession on the Nerl we see a beautiful white stone church on the river bank. The author painted the canvas from the opposite bank. Therefore, viewers have the opportunity to admire the image of both the temple itself and its reflection in the water.

In the foreground of the picture you can see a river bank with tall, thick grass and green bushes. On the left side the artist depicted dried trees. But they do not spoil the artistic canvas at all, since a well-chosen background for them enlivens the lifeless branches. And the background is the crowns of green trees from the opposite bank.

In the central part of the canvas, the author placed a snow-white church. Its white walls are reflected very beautifully in the waters of the blue river. We have a view of two walls of the temple with portals and elongated arched windows. The majestic structure is decorated with decorative arches and various architectural elements. The painter tries to emphasize every detail of the facade. He uses light and shadow to highlight all the moldings. Even from afar they are clearly visible.

The snow-white church with its surrounding nature looks picturesque. It stands out effectively against the blue sky. The iron dome of the temple reflects the blue of heaven, so the gray color of the dome takes on a beautiful purple hue. From below, it seems that the cross located on the top of the dome is touching the heavens. Thus, the author wants to show us the connection between the Orthodox church on earth and the divine forces in heaven.

On the hill next to the church a house and several trees are visible. The trees grow at the bottom of the hill, almost at the very edge of the water. Their lush green crowns stand out beautifully against the evening sky.

The painter shows the change in weather on the canvas in a very interesting way. A sunny summer day, on the premonition of a thunderstorm, changes to a cloudy evening. The sun's rays still flood the temple and the vegetation around it, as well as the surface of the water and the banks of the river. However, the blue sky at the top of the canvas is already gloomy and cloudy. But overall it still looks beautiful due to the pink clouds in the central part and the blue sky at the horizon.

In the background, across the river, you can see water meadows with bushes and trees. They look blurry, as if in a haze.

Sergei Alekseevich in his canvas shows us the beauty and uniqueness of a historically significant place in our Motherland. He captured on canvas the amazing creation of the architects - the Church of the Intercession. This divine temple came to us from time immemorial and was miraculously preserved. Therefore, the artistic canvas itself acquired strength and significance. The picture inspires and evokes feelings of pride that such monuments of culture and Orthodoxy have been preserved in our country. It makes you want to visit under the arches of the temple, and also admire it from the opposite bank of the Nerl.

Vladimir region. Church of the Intercession on the Nerl.

Essay based on Baulin's painting Temple of the Intercession on the Nerl, grade 8

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Artist's painting

The story behind the creation of the masterpiece is as follows. The master painted the canvas in 1937. At this time, repression was rampant in the country; it was a rather turbulent time. Perhaps he wanted to find peace by working in such a blessed place. In those days, as mentioned above, churches and monasteries were closed, turned into warehouses or completely blown up. Fearing for this shrine, the artist captured it forever with the help of paints and canvas.

The white stone church is located in the central part of the exhibition, but it occupies a rather modest place. The beauty of a man-made creation does not overshadow the natural one. All objects on the canvas are harmoniously adjacent.

In the foreground we see the coastline. Against the background of green grass, yellow flowers stand out in bright, but not pretentious stripes. A woman and a child are walking here, the baby bent down to pick a spring flower.

Essay description based on the painting Church of the Intercession on the Nerl by Gerasimov

The canvas “Church of the Intercession on the Nerl” was painted by an artist who mostly painted landscapes. In them he expressed the modest, yet majestic beauty of his land. An example of this is the canvas “Church of the Intercession on the Nerl”. Looking at her, not a single person can remain indifferent. The Temple was erected under Andrei Bogolyubsky. The legend says that the prince was very sad after the death of his son. In memory of him, he erected a Temple, which was built on the banks of a river and enchants everyone with its splendor. The artist himself was not cold to such brilliance. The painting in the center depicts a church on one sunny day. The artist gave her the most important place in the central part of the canvas in the embrace of gorgeous nature, and vast expanses stretch around. The Church itself stands on a hill, like a majestic white-stone watchman, turning its golden head into the blue sky with white lush clouds. These clouds make the picture completely unusual. There is a feeling that the Temple emerges from the ground together with the elevation on which it stands. And the reflection in the water is its extraordinary mysterious continuation. The church looks as if it was not made by masters, but created by heaven. The canvas also shows a beautiful green meadow, behind which a blue river spreads its waters. The Nerl River quietly let its waters flow around the Church. The boat is rocking on the water, despite the fact that it is impossible to see. It appears in the viewer's imagination. On the bank opposite the Church, a young woman with a child is walking. Fields and meadows are visible in the distance. When looking at this canvas, the viewer has many positive feelings. And looking at the Church itself, you think about eternal values. It is clear on the canvas that the Temple is not depicted by itself, it is like a small Universe that the artist shows on his canvas. The luxury of the neighboring nature only highlights the sophistication and elegance of the Church, which was created by human hands. The building seems expressive and inspired. This canvas makes it possible to experience the pleasure of looking at the Temple, even when it was not possible to actually contemplate it.

What else is shown on the canvas

The coastline is repeated by the water. The river is depicted in blue, pink, and sometimes green watercolors. The main object of the picture, the church, is reflected in the water surface. It is also surrounded by green grass. A boat is tied near the shore. Maybe a man came on it to pray. To the right of the temple people are visible, they are moving away from it, going about their business.

The painting “Church of the Intercession on the Nerl” will allow schoolchildren, who are asked to write an essay about it, to replenish their vocabulary, reveal their creative abilities, and broaden their horizons. Someone will want to know more about this place. Others will be able to compose their own story on a given topic and tell how events on the canvas will develop further. Still others will believe in themselves and also want to become artists. All this is wonderful and commendable. Young talents will be able to start with an image of the sky and thereby hone and improve their technique.

Trees and sky

The artist depicted the sky in calm, but at the same time rainbow colors. The painting “Church of the Intercession on the Nerl” helps to see not only the beauty of nature and the shrine, but also to look up. The vault of heaven in the background meets the horizon line. Young artists can start their landscape with it. Then up from this line you will need to sketch strokes with blue, pink, and blue watercolors.

Do not make them too bright, they should look like on the canvas of S. V. Gerasimov. Then this part of the landscape will also fit in harmoniously.

Looking at Gerasimov’s painting “The Church of the Intercession on the Nerl”, you come to the conclusion that the artist was not afraid to place a tree next to the temple. After all, it does not distract attention to itself, but once again emphasizes the whiteness and cleanliness of the walls.

Small trees located at a distance highlight the bend of the river, which also benefits the picture.

Author: Essays on paintings
Artwork: Church of the Intercession on the Nerl (painting)
This essay has been copied 102,500 times

The depiction of temples and churches is one of the favorite themes of Russian painters. Artists have repeatedly depicted architectural structures against the backdrop of a beautiful landscape. Many masters were especially attracted to small ancient Russian churches, such as the Church of the Intercession on the Nerl.

The church was built many centuries ago, in 1165, and was named after the Russian Saint Intercession. According to legend, Andrei Bogolyubsky himself chose the place to build the church. It was this miniature and elegant church, located on the banks of the Nerl River, that was depicted by the artists S.I. Gerasimov and S.A. Baulin.

The Church of the Intercession on the Nerl is represented in paintings by famous artists with different moods. If Gerasimov uses various techniques to show a bright, colorful day, then on Baulin’s canvas you can see a gloomy and cloudy day. The Church of the Intercession is presented in these paintings as a symbol of goodness, beauty, and the spiritual connection of man with nature.

Gerasimov depicted a temple in the center of the canvas. It seems that the church and nature are a kind of single whole. At the same time, the temple is a human creation. The church is located almost in the center of the composition. Despite this, there is no feeling of strict symmetry, clarity and completeness. When you look at this picture, it seems that you can walk along the river bank, approach the church and take a closer look at it. The image of a sunny day only strengthens this desire. The artist shows the harmony of nature and the man-made church, a bright mood, and the belief that this feeling will never leave.

In Baulin’s painting, the Church of the Intercession on the Nerl is depicted very close. The artist did not choose this technique by chance. The architectural details of the temple are painted with special care, and against the backdrop of a dark, gloomy sky, the church looks very light. The purity and pristineness of the place where the temple is located is especially emphasized: a reflection in the river, a bank overgrown with grass, a white birch tree on the opposite bank of the river. Thus, the painter creates a special mood and shows that light and faith can overcome any adversity and trouble.

The Church of the Intercession on the Nerl is presented in the paintings of Gerasimov and Baulin as a symbol of goodness, beauty, and the spiritual connection of man with nature. Every stroke of the artists, the choice of paints, some details indicate that the painters painted these canvases with special trepidation. Therefore, these paintings always evoke admiration and bright thoughts.

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