History and Culture: The exhibition "V. M. Vasnetsov and Russian icon of the late XIX - early XX centuries” in Saint-Petersburg

The exhibition “The inspirer of seekers of Ancient Rus” (V. M. Vasnetsov and Russian icon of the late XIX - early XX centuries) opened on July 25, 2013 at the State Museum of the History of Religion (Saint-Petersburg). The basis of the exhibition is four grand works of V. M. Vasnetsov, which he created for the church of Saint George in the village of Goose Maltsovsky of the Vladimir province (since 1926 - the city of Crystal Goose). These are painting “Golgotha”, “Descent into Hell”, the final designs for the mosaics “Eucharist” and “About you is happy”.

The second part of the exhibition is 12 paintings, drawings and icons painted by followers of the artistic manner of Vasnetsov, repeating the most popular songs of the artist. Much of this work is exhibited for the first time.

A religious painting by V. M. Vasnetsov, especially his works in the Vladimir Cathedral in Kiev, was used in the late XIX - early XX centuries with a great popularity. His icons and murals have been endlessly copied, replicated, reproducing the various techniques of printmaking, and published in the form of photo albums and sets of cards. Often these photographs and postcards were used as models to create new icons and monumental painting for built temples, painting Easter eggs, as well as teaching young painters.