Andrei Rublev (Russian: Андре?й Рублёв, also transliterated Andrey Rublyov and other permutations, born in the 1360s, died 1427 or January 29, 1430) is considered to be the greatest medieval Russian painter of Orthodox icons and frescoes.
The Transfiguration.
1405. 80,5 x 61.
From the Church Feasts Range.
The Annunciation Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin
Moscow, Russia.
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There is little information about his life. It is not known where he was born. Andrei Rublev probably lived in the Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra near Moscow under Nikon of Radonezh, who became hegumen after the death of Sergii Radonezhsky (1392).
The first mentioning of his name refers to 1405; the document says that for the decoration of the Annunciation Cathedral in Moscow Kremlin there were invited the famous Theophanes the Greek, master Prokhor and monk Andrei Rublev. This means that the painter had already changed the unknown to us name given on birth to the name of Andrei. His name was the last of the list of masters as the junior both by rank and by age. Theophanes was an important Byzantine master who moved to Russia, and is considered to have trained Rublev. Historians suppose that Rublev took his vows in the Troitsky (Trinity) monastery under abbot Nikon, pupil and successor of Sergei Radonezhsky. The decorations of the Annunciation Cathedral did not survive the turbulent time, but the Iconostasis still keeps 7 icons. They are evidence of his high skills and the following of the Byzantine tradition. It is difficult to tell with confidence what Rublev's brushes of icons and frescos belong. Quite probably that he has created "Transformation".
There is the second document, dated 1408, that Andrei Rublev and icon painter Danil (Daniil Tcherny) on May 25 started to decorate the Dormtion Cathedral in Vladimir. Those works are the only preserved murals by Andrei Rublev, which show his break/deviation from the Byzantine school, (for differences between the schools read….)
To the 1410s art historians refer the 3 icons in Zvenigorod: Our Savior, Archangel Michael and Apostle Paul. In these icons, especially Our Savior, the new tradition is maturely embodied, marking the beginning of the Golden Age in Russian icon painting.
Probably at that time Rublev painted the Old Testament Trinity, the best of Russian icons. It is based upon an earlier icon known as the "Hospitality of Abraham". Rublev removed the figures of Abraham and Sarah from the scene, and through a subtle use of composition and symbolism changed the subject to focus on the Mystery of the Trinity.
Here he managed to create the mood of spiritual harmony of three souls, the Trinity is an ideal incarnation/embodiment of the complicated theological/divine theme. “The most individual element – and also the most distinctively Russian – is the color scale, which is brighter, more complex, and different in key from that of any Byzantine work. In the hands of a lesser master, such combinations as orange, vermilion, and turquoise might easily have a primitive garishness of the sort we often find in folk art. But here, the controlled intensity of these tones is an essential part of the composition” (History of Art. By H. W. Janson. Fifth Edition. Harry N. Abrams Inc., NY. 1995). Rublev’s Trinity became an example for multiple repetitions and imitations, but none of them reached the same level.
In the middle of the 1420s Rublev and Daniil Tcherny worked on decoration of The Trinity-Sergius Lavra (abbey). The murals have been ruined, only some icons were preserved.
The last work of Andrei Rublev – decoration of the Our Savior Cathedral of Spas-Andronnikov monastery in Moscow, where Andrei Rublev lived – were also ruined.
According to the legend Andrei Rublev was a shy and calm person, was busy exclusively with divine service, icon painting and meditation. As all reformers Rublev was often criticized for deviation from the canons; his works were considered to be ‘very joyful’, ‘devoid of fear of the Lord’, ‘lacking splendor’ and much more.
In Rublev's art, two traditions are combined: the highest asceticism and the classic harmony of Byzantine mannerism. The characters of his paintings are always peaceful and calm. After some time his art came to be perceived as the ideal of Church painting and of Orthodox iconography.
The date of his death, 1430, is the only precise date of his life. He was respected during his life and after his death became a legend, symbol of high spiritual art. However for a long time his authority was based only on the legend, because nobody knew exactly, which works belonged to him for sure, and the most famous of his works, the Trinity, has changed so greatly during time that it's became next to impossible to judge about its merit. Only in the 20th century thanks to works of many researchers and art restorers our understanding and perception of Rublev as one of the geniuses of the world art has been filled with real meaning.
His work has influenced many different artists including Dionisy. At the Stoglavi Sobor (1551) Rublev's icon style was announced as a model for church painting. He was canonized a saint in 1988 by the Russian Orthodox Church. The church celebrates his feast day on January 29 and July 4.
Andrei Rublev is honored with a feast day on the liturgical of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America on January 29.
Since 1959 the Andrei Rublev Museum has been open at the Andronnikov Monastery, displaying the art of his works and his epoch.
