Roerich biography of the artist

Latest news biography Nikolai Konstantinovich Roerich is an outstanding figure in Russian and world culture. Artist, philosopher, writer, scientist, public figure and traveler. After himself, he left a huge creative heritage - over seven thousand paintings, about thirty volumes of literary works. All this, as well as archival photos, made it possible to preserve the memory of him for descendants.

Childhood and youth Nikolai Roerich was born in St. Petersburg on October 9. His father Konstantin Fedorovich Roerich was an influential lawyer in the city. Mother Maria Vasilievna was considered a housewife, raised children. The boy had the older sister Lydia and two younger brothers, Vladimir and Boris. In childhood, Nikolai became interested in history, read a lot.

The sculptor Mikhail Mikeshin, who was a frequent guest in the family, noticed that the child had a talent for drawing, and began to teach him artistic craft. Roerich studied at the gymnasium of Karl May. His classmates were Alexander Benois, Dmitry Philosophers. At the Academy, he worked in the workshop of the eminent artist Arkhip Ivanovich Kuindzhi. In the year, Roerich graduated from the Academy of Arts.

His diploma work was the painting "The Hokee", Pavel Tretyakov acquired it for his gallery. Then the young artist received the position of assistant to the director of the museum under the imperial society for the promotion of arts, and simultaneously worked in the journal "Art and Art Industry". Archeology in his student years of biography Nikolai Konstantinovich traveled to archaeological and ethnographic expeditions, and in the year he became a member of the Russian Archaeological Society.

In these trips, the young artist studied folklore with interest, listened and recorded stories. In the future, Roerich collaborated with an archaeological institute located in his native Petersburg. He participated in the organization of excavations, including the Pskov, Tver, Yaroslavl provinces. In the year, Nikolai Konstantinovich began to collect a collection of antiquities, which was highly appreciated by the world community.

Later, the artist he participated in excavations in which he managed to find the remnants of the Kremlin of Ancient Novgorod. The work of the artist Nikolai Roerich in the early period of creativity, the style of painting Roerich stood out with an all -encompassing approach to the composition with the purity of color and the clarity of lines. In the youth, Nikolai Konstantinovich was more fascinated by the Old Russian theme, but over time, oriental motifs appeared in the paintings.

At a later age, the artist began to combine symbolism and realism in art. Upon returning, the artist preferred to write historical stories. The early period of his work includes the paintings “Idols”, “Build Rooks”, “Elders converge”. The artist worked in the field of monumental and theatrical and decorative painting. Starting from the year, Roerich worked on the design of ballet, opera and dramatic productions.

During this period, he conducted active activity in the revival of artistic Rus' and the preservation of antiquity monuments. The painter created sketches for the painting of churches, chapels. In the year, he began work on two panels - “Sich at Kerzhentsa” and “conquering of Kazan”. Their sizes were impressive. The latter was created for the design of the Kazan station in Moscow.

But because of the war, the construction dragged on. Temporarily the panel was transferred to the Academy of Arts. As a result, Roerich’s canvas was cut into pieces that were handed out for students for classes. So the work of the great artist died irrevocably. In New York, he created the Institute of United Arts. Five years later, the Museum of Nikolai Roerich began to function in the city - this was the first museum of the Russian artist open outside Russia.

But the greatest mark in the work of the painter was left by his expedition in the Himalayas. In the year, Roerich and his family came to India. He immediately began to prepare for the most important journey in his life - on an expedition to the inaccessible places of Central Asia. These territories were interested in him not only as an artist. He wanted to study and solve the problems associated with the world migration of ancient peoples.

The route was long and complex. By the number of material collected, this journey can be safely entered among the largest expeditions of the 20th century. It lasted 39 months - from a year. The most popular paintings by Roerich were created precisely under the impression of this journey and great mountains. During this period, he wrote from above the paintings. In his work, philosophical searches came to the fore.

Literature and esotericics are great and the literary heritage of Nikolai Konstantinovich. He published a collection of poems “Flowers of Moria”, which was first published in Berlin in metro. It was created with the participation of the wife of Nikolai Konstantinovich Elena Roerich. First of all, it is the philosophy of cosmic reality, the logical evolution of space.

According to this teaching, the meaning of the evolution of mankind is spiritual enlightenment and improvement. The hobby of Nikolai Konstantinovich Esoterica resulted in the conduct of spirituality sessions. He also mastered the “automatic letter”. Being in a trance, the artist painted portraits of spiritual mentors-Buddha, Allal-Ming, Lao Tzu with a pencil.Personal life of the artist’s personal life has developed happily.

A significant year for him was Y: Roerich met his future wife Elena Ivanovna Shaposhnikova. She was from the family of the St. Petersburg intelligentsia, from childhood she was fond of drawing and playing the piano, and later began to study philosophy, religion and mythology. Young people immediately imbued with each other, looked equally at the world. Soon their sympathy grew into a strong feeling.

In the year, the couple got married. All their lives they complemented each other in a creative and spiritual plan. Elena Ivanovna shared any undertakings of her husband, was his reliable companion and faithful friend. In the year, their firstborn was born - the son of Yuri. And in M, the second heir, Svyatoslav was born. In his books, Roerich called Elena Ivanovna only as an inspirer and “others”.

He showed new paintings first of all to his wife, trusting her intuition and taste. In all travel and expeditions, Elena Ivanovna was accompanied by a spouse. Thanks to her, the artist met the works of the thinkers of India. The eldest became a famous orientalist who specialized in the culture of Tibet, was engaged in ethnography and linguistics. The youngest followed in the footsteps of his father and became an artist known both in Russia and in India.

The children of Nikolai Konstantinovich did not leave the descendants behind. The death of Nikolai Roerich in the year Nikolai Konstantinovich was diagnosed with heart disease. In the last years of his life, the artist wanted to return to Russia, but the war began, then he was denied an entry visa. In the spring, such a long -awaited resolution came.

Roerich's family began to prepare for departure. Suddenly, his heart ceased to beat, which caused death. They rested the soul of the great artist according to Indian custom: the body was burned and dispelled in the wind from the top of the mountain. At the site of cremation, in the Kulu valley, which is conditionally considered the place where Roerich was buried, they erected a monument with the inscription: "The great Russian friend of India." Memory of memory of the great Russian artist was preserved not only in his homeland, but also in other countries of the world.

Monuments were erected in Moscow and St. Petersburg, and in the Indian Nugar they devoted a memorable construction to the family of Nikolai Konstantinovich. Named after the artist and geographical objects, including mountain peak in Altai, a pass on the Tien Shan. His name is bear numerous streets in different countries of the world. And in the year the name Roerich for asteroid was approved.

In honor of this, an exhibition was organized in the Tretyakov Gallery, in the New Tretyakov Gallery premises, where those works that had not previously been exhibited were presented. And on the First Channel, the documentary “In Search of Shambhala” was released. The works - “The messenger rebelled for the clan” - “overseas guests”.