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Trinity (Andrei Rublev)
Encyclopedia
Trinity is a Holy Trinity Icon
, believed to be created by Russian painter Andrei Rublev
in the XV
century. It is his most famous work, as well regarded as one of the highest achievements of Russian art. Trinity depicts the three angel
s who visited Abraham
at the oak of Mamre
(see. Genesis 18,1-15), but the painting is full of symbolism and often interpreted as an icon of the Holy Trinity.
Little is known about Trinitys history, scientists can only make suppositions. Even the authorship of Rublev is questioned sometimes. Different sources conjecture the date of creation as 1408-1425, 1422-1423 or 1420-1427. The official version states 1411 or 1425-27. According to the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius records, in 1575 the icon was "covered with gold" by Ivan the Terrible. A golden riza
was renewed in 1600 during the tsardom of Boris Godunov
. The original is currently held in the Tretyakov Gallery
in Moscow. It was commissioned in honor of the abbot Sergius of the Troitse-Sergiyeva Lavra
, near Moscow
. Two copies were made (in 1598-1600 and in 1926-28), both kept in Troitse-Sergiyeva Lavra
's Cathedral iconostasis
.
Holy Trinity Icon
The Holy Trinity is an important subject of iconographic representation in Eastern Orthodox Christianity, and has a rather different treatment from depictions in the Western Churches...
, believed to be created by Russian painter Andrei Rublev
Andrei Rublev
Andrei Rublev is considered to be the greatest medieval Russian painter of Orthodox icons and frescoes.-Biography:...
in the XV
XV
XV or Xv may refer to:* 15 in Roman numerals* XV , rapper from Wichita, Kansas, United States* XV , an album by King's X* Xv, a shareware image display and manipulation program for Unix...
century. It is his most famous work, as well regarded as one of the highest achievements of Russian art. Trinity depicts the three angel
Angel
Angels are mythical beings often depicted as messengers of God in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles along with the Quran. The English word angel is derived from the Greek ἄγγελος, a translation of in the Hebrew Bible ; a similar term, ملائكة , is used in the Qur'an...
s who visited Abraham
Abraham
Abraham , whose birth name was Abram, is the eponym of the Abrahamic religions, among which are Judaism, Christianity and Islam...
at the oak of Mamre
Mamre
Mamre , full Hebrew name Elonei Mamre , refers to a Canaanite cultic shrine dedicated to the supreme, sky god of the Canaanite pantheon, El. Talmudic sources refer to the site as Beth Ilanim or Botnah. it was one of the three most important "fairs", market place or caravanserai, in Palestine...
(see. Genesis 18,1-15), but the painting is full of symbolism and often interpreted as an icon of the Holy Trinity.
Little is known about Trinitys history, scientists can only make suppositions. Even the authorship of Rublev is questioned sometimes. Different sources conjecture the date of creation as 1408-1425, 1422-1423 or 1420-1427. The official version states 1411 or 1425-27. According to the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius records, in 1575 the icon was "covered with gold" by Ivan the Terrible. A golden riza
Riza
A riza or oklad , sometimes called a "revetment" in English, is a metal cover protecting an icon. It is usually made of gilt or silvered metal with repoussé work and is pierced to expose elements of the underlying painting. It is sometimes enameled, filigreed, or set with artificial,...
was renewed in 1600 during the tsardom of Boris Godunov
Boris Godunov
Boris Fyodorovich Godunov was de facto regent of Russia from c. 1585 to 1598 and then the first non-Rurikid tsar from 1598 to 1605. The end of his reign saw Russia descend into the Time of Troubles.-Early years:...
. The original is currently held in the Tretyakov Gallery
Tretyakov Gallery
The State Tretyakov Gallery is an art gallery in Moscow, Russia, the foremost depository of Russian fine art in the world.The gallery's history starts in 1856 when the Moscow merchant Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov acquired works by Russian artists of his day with the aim of creating a collection,...
in Moscow. It was commissioned in honor of the abbot Sergius of the Troitse-Sergiyeva Lavra
Troitse-Sergiyeva Lavra
The Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius is the most important Russian monastery and the spiritual centre of the Russian Orthodox Church. The monastery is situated in the town of Sergiyev Posad, about 70 km to the north-east from Moscow by the road leading to Yaroslavl, and currently is home to...
, near Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. Two copies were made (in 1598-1600 and in 1926-28), both kept in Troitse-Sergiyeva Lavra
Troitse-Sergiyeva Lavra
The Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius is the most important Russian monastery and the spiritual centre of the Russian Orthodox Church. The monastery is situated in the town of Sergiyev Posad, about 70 km to the north-east from Moscow by the road leading to Yaroslavl, and currently is home to...
's Cathedral iconostasis
Iconostasis
In Eastern Christianity an iconostasis is a wall of icons and religious paintings, separating the nave from the sanctuary in a church. Iconostasis also refers to a portable icon stand that can be placed anywhere within a church...
.
Further reading
- Troitca Andreya Rubleva [The Trinity of Andrey Rublev], Gerold I. Vzdornov (ed.), Moscow: Iskusstvo, 1989.
- Konrad Onasch, Das Problem des Lichtes in der Ikonomalerei Andrej Rublevs. Zur 600–Jahrfeier des grossen russischen Malers, vol. 28. Berlin: Berliner byzantinische Arbeiten, 1962.
- Eugeny N. Trubetskoi, Russkaya ikonopis'. Umozrenie w kraskah. Wopros o smysle vizni w drewnerusskoj religioznoj viwopisi [Russian icon painting. Colourful contemplation. Question of the meaning of life in early Russian religious painting], Moscow: Beliy Gorod, 2003 [1916].
- Natalya A. Demina, Troitca Andreya Rubleva [The Trinity of Andrey Rublev]. Moscow: Nauka, 1963.
- Mikhail V. Alpatov, Andrey Rublev, Moscow: Iskusstvo, 1972.
- Florensky, Pavel A. Troitse-Sergieva Lavra i Rossiya [The Troitse-Sergiev’s Lavra and Russia]. In Troitsa Andreya Rubleva [The Trinity of Andrey Rublev], Gerold I. Vzdornov (ed.), 52–53, Moscow: Iskusstvo, 1989.
- Nikolai A. Golubtsov, Presyataya Troitsa I domostroitel’stvo (Ob ikone inoka Andreya Rubleva) [The Holy Trinity and housebuilding (On the icon of Holy Trinity by Andrey Rublev)], Journal of Moscow Patriarchate 7, 32–40, 1960.
- Sergius Golubtsov, Ikona jivonachal’noy Troitsy [The icon of live-creating Trinity], Journal of Moscow Patriarchate 7, 69–76, 1972.
- Viktor N. Lazarev, Russkaya srednevekovaya zhivopis’ [Medieval Russian art], In Troitsa Andreya Rubleva [The Trinity of Andrey Rublev], Gerold I. Vzdornov (ed.), 104–110. Moscow: Iskusstvo, 1989.
- Henri J. M. Nouwen, Behold the Beauty of the Lord: Praying with Icons, Notre Dame, Ind., AveMariaPress, 1987, pp. 23-24
- Michael Jinkins, Alan J Torrance, Invitation to theology, InterVarsity Press, 2001, pp. 186-187, ISBN 0-8308-1562-7
- Georgij Yu. Somov, Semiotic systemity of visual artworks: Case study of The Holy Trinity by Rublev . SemioticaSemioticaSemiotica is an academic journal covering semiotics. It is the official journal of the International Association for Semiotic Studies.-Publication:Since 2000, the journal publishes five issues per year. It is published in English and French....
166 (1/4), 1-79, 2007. Alternative link.