Exhibition "Views of the Pafnutyev-Borovsky Monastery"

Until November 15, the Kaluga Museum of Fine Arts (103 Lenina str., Second floor) hosts an exhibition "Views of the Pafnutyev-Borovsky Monastery" from the funds of the Kaluga Museum of Fine Arts.

The exhibition of the presented works is timed to the 400th anniversary of the birth of the prominent Russian writer of the 17th century, Archpriest Avvakum, author of the famous "Life of Archpriest Avvakum, written by himself," one of the ideologists of the Old Believers. The emergence of this movement was caused not so much by the "correction" of liturgical books, as by Patriarch Nikon’s introduction into the church administration of violence, the desire to personally uncontrollably solve the most important issues. At the same time, the role of national centuries-old traditions, considered as a manifestation of religious feelings, was not taken into account. Errors and distortions of the text were found and corrected at different times, which did not cause a protest, but now the reform was transferred to a ceremony that was noticeably different from Greek practice. The opposition came to his defense,soon subjected to persecution by the church and civil authorities. A sad fate befell the Archpriest Avvakum, who experienced exile and imprisonment, including in the Pafnutyev-Borovsky Monastery.

The Pafnutiev-Borovsky Monastery was founded by the Monk Paphnutius in 1444. It is a remarkable monument of history and architecture, widely known. It is associated with the early period of creativity of the largest Russian artist Dionysius, who completed murals between 1467 and 1476 of the first cathedral, dismantled during the construction of the now existing one in 1586. Only fragments of the painting have survived. In the second half of the 17th century, the archpriest Avvakum languished within the walls of the monastery, the oldest buildings of which date back to the 16th-17th centuries. He tells in detail about his misadventures in his life, explaining the reasons for his opposition to church reforms, which ended, as you know, with his burning at the stake in Pustozersk.

It is quite natural that the architectural ensemble of the Pafnutyev-Borovsky Monastery attracts the attention of artists, especially over the past decades. Here are samples of their creativity. A small painting “Borovsky Monastery. Autumn ”belongs to the brush of the Kaluga painter N. A. Lyubchenko (1939-2001). He also made the landscapes "Church in the courtyard of the Borovsky Monastery" and "Towers of the Borovsky Monastery" in the technique of gouache, which are distinguished by their originality of perception. By 1980, the painting by M. Otvagin "Pafnutevo-Borovsky Monastery" was completed, emphasizing the monumental nature of the buildings. The original decision is given to the graphic works "Pafnutyev-Borovsky Monastery" by O. I. Ardimasov and "Borovsky Pafnutyev Monastery" by D. I. Ivanov. This series is successfully completed by the almost panoramic composition of the tapestry by I. G. Polezhaeva.

Each of the authors, fascinated by the beauty of the famous monastery, reveals his artistic vision and reflects in his characteristic creative manner, in a certain painting technique, the image of an ancient Russian monastery-fortress. There is no doubt that this is not only a monument of Russian architecture, but also a true decoration of our region.