by Natalia ZHILINA, Dr. Sc. (Hist.), Chief Research Scientist, RAS Institute of Archeology Back in the 10th and early 11th centuries Old Russia, the Rus, was having just her first contacts with Christian monumental arts-architecture, mosaics, icons, frescoes... Yet applied arts were still predominant everywhere. Furnishings, ornamented working tools, weapons and all that reflected the in-trends of the time. Quite small, utilitarian and not imposing, this handiwork of oldtime masters keynotes nonetheless a landmark period in the history of homeland arts during incipient Russian national statehood. Such artefacts are known largely from archeology finds. Art critics would rather view them in general, as an introduction to real art materialized in Orthodox church buildings and their decor, icons and frescoes including. Studying art works of Old Rus, many scholars and artists will stress their likeness to works of Scandinavian, Moravian and Byzantine masters. But external influences are just one side of the matter: one should also see their role within the Slav-Rus culture. To get a comprehensive view of this development стр. 78 stage of our applied art it is important to center on its inherent characteristics. We shall try to do that. SLAV ORIGINS In the 6th to 9th centuries A.D. Eastern Slavs were turning into a stratified society with rich nobles on top who, unlike the common people, owned nicer and costlier things. Even though elitarian art was forcing its way, applied art still held on as closest to the grass roots. Large, heavy metal ornaments--like neck grivnas (bits), temple rings, bracelets--were quite simple and natural, they matched body proportions and those of the head, neck, and arms and hands. Their making was quite primitive, it was confined to forging, casting, simplest inlays and punching--no frills! Creative artistry was not part of the big style yet. True, in the 7th and 8th centuries stamping techniques of or ... Читать далее