Antiquities of the russian state, 1846-1853. V. 1. Illustrator — solntsev, fyodor grigorievich front side of the cover of the gospel of tsarina natalia kirillovna most precious in materials, most magnificent in decoration, beautiful in artistry, this gospel, the only one of its kind, 1 1/4 arshins high, 11 vershoks wide. It was printed on large alexandrian paper in gospel letters in moscow in 1689. The headpieces in the titles are replaced by miniatures painted with a skillful brush, the borders on the sheets are painted all around with paints and gold. The images of the four evangelists are distinguished by the correctness and firmness of the drawing, the brilliance of the coloring. Since the royal icon painters at that time included russian and foreign artists, it can be assumed with certainty that these miniatures are their work. But the cover incomparably surpasses the luxurious seal of the holy book in the richness and magnificence of its precious ornaments; it is gold on both sides. On its upper board are placed crowns, flowers, herbs and patterns of diamonds, emeralds and sapphires with enamel, between which, on seven large emeralds, the faces of the lord almighty, the mother of god, the forerunner and the four evangelists are carved with armor work. The entire surface of the front board is so luxuriously strewn with precious stones that they merge as if into one mass. On the back board, the faces of various saints are traced with enamel on gold. The following inscription is carved along the edges of the frame: “in glory of the lord god the creator and in honor of the most pure virgin mary, the most pious great sovereigns tsars and grand dukes ivan alekseevich and peter alekseevich, autocrats of all great and small and white russia and many states and lands of the east and west and north, fathers and grandfathers, and heirs, and sovereigns, and rulers, and rulers in the 12th year of their kingdom, and their mother, the pious great sovereign, the faithful queen and grand duchess natalia kirillovna, in their god-desired royal zeal, have deigned to arrange this holy gospel of jesus christ printed with excellent art and to decorate it from their royal treasures with a very large expenditure, gold and precious stones, with the most noble great to the tsarevich and grand duke alexei petrovich of all great and small and white russia, in the fourth year of his age, and having arranged it, they ordered it to be given to the great cathedral church of the dormition of the most holy mother of god, under the great lord, the most holy cyrus adrian, archbishop of moscow and of all russia and of all the northern countries, patriarch, in the reigning, great and glorious city of moscow, in the year 7202 of the universe from the incarnation of god the word jesus christ, 1693, the month of december on the 25th day. The time of the arrangement of this altar gospel coincides with the journey of young peter to arkhangelsk, where his caring mother did not want to let him go for his first sea voyage. Probably, this was her vow to the house of the most holy mother of god for the preservation of her son. During the reign of catherine ii, this gospel was renewed with decorations and in this form has been preserved to our times as a sacred and precious monument of royal piety. On the temple feast and on the day of the coronation of russian sovereigns, it is carried out by two deacons at the small exit. Date: 1846—1853.
Loading...
