Deg Fairest wrath of the enemy. Option Roerich N.K. (Part 2)

Description of Nicholas Roerich’s painting "Precious Grad - an embitterment to enemies".

The work "Prechistiy Grad - To the Enemies an Embitterment" is part of a large collection of paintings that Roerich dedicated to the coming war. This work was painted in 1912. Tension was felt around the world. The world powers were in a state of conflict. Nicholas Roerich did not see anything good in the impending war. He was a man of peace and rejected all violence.

The First World War, according to Roerich, was to split and destroy the world. And the artist understood it both literally and figuratively. The master predicted that the war would destroy not only cities, but also the thoughts of people.

This work reflects the whole essence of any war. Nicholas Roerich, when writing the work, gave himself completely to symbolism. Here we see that a large white stone city is surrounded by uncontrollable fire. One gets the impression that this paradisiacal city suddenly found itself in hell. Around the city walls rise mountains drowned in flames. On the tops of the cliffs stand monsters that resemble devils. These dark, winged creature figures represent evil. In their hands they hold huge boulders, which they soon throw at the white hail. In addition to the devils, huge fire-breathing dragons also attack the city. They are the ones who set this terrible fire, which could destroy the shrine. The city is a symbol of purity, sanity, love and peace. Despite the flames raging all around, the city buildings are not destroyed. It is as if they are in opposition to evil.

One cannot help but notice the defender of the "pure city". St. George, the victorious one, rushes through the infernal scorcher to cut down the monsters, to destroy the evil. The artist decided to depict both the city and its defender in the same color to emphasize their unity.

This painting conveys Roerich’s thoughts about war. He believes that good will always triumph over evil, and reason will prevail over stupidity and intemperance.