Russian painting of the first half of the XV century and Andrey Rublyov's artistic creativity

Progressive ideas and moods of an epoch, following the Tatar-Mongolian yoke have found the reflection in painting of the first half of the XV century.

They are most deeply reflected in Andrey Rublyov's  works, which represent the highest point of development of national art culture of the period of formation of the centralized Russian state.

The exact dates of Andrey Rublyov's death and birth are unknown. But the majority of researchers think that he was born in 1360, and died in 1430. The place of his birth and details of his life are also covered by the veil of time. Information we have about Rublyov's works is scarce and contradictory. Annals and Literary works of XV century are considered to be the most reliable sources. The earliest records about Andrey Rublyov appeared in Trinity annals made in Moscow and finished by 1408. These Annals have been burned down during the Moscow fire in 1812, but was kept in copies and reconstructed by Russian scientist M.D.Priselkov. Some chronicler, the contemporary of Andrey Rublyov, in 1405 made such records: “... In spring, on the Sacred Lady day such masters as Theophanes the Greek, Prohor from Gorodets and starets Andrey Rublyov, began to paint the new stone church on the court yard of the  Grand prince and finished work the same summer”. From the same Trinity annals  we learn about Andrey Rublyov's work in Vladimiro-Assumption cathedral in 1408

Literary works of XV century supplement brief records of the Trinity annals. From these sources we learn that starets Andrey Rublyov together with other icon painters-monks made frescos for the Trinity Cathedral of St.Sergius' Trinity Monastery near Moscow (Zagorsk) and the Savior Andronikov monastery in Moscow . He was the monk of this monastery and one of the builders of a cathedral; he had died and was  buried in the monastery.

Andrey Rublyov painted the Trinity cathedral together with Daniel who is mentioned first as the senior, and some other icon painters, names of which the author did not know or did not consider  necessary to list.

Records about Andrey Rublyov appered again at the end of XV - beginning of XVI century, in one of literary works of Joseph Volokolamskij, the recognized church figure of that time. Joseph wrote about well-known icon painters of the Savior Andronikov monastery in Moscow  - Daniel and  his pupil Andrey and  told their legend, that had appeared in  this monastery.

In XVI century Andrey Rublyov is mentioned in the resolution of the Stoglavij council in 1551, concerning the rules and techniques of painting the Old Testament Trinity: « …Icons should be painted according to ancient tradition of Greek painters, and painting tradition of  Andrey Rublyov and some other painters ».

This decision is considered to be of great importance not only because it testifies  to the fact that Rublyov was a renowned and honorable painter of his time but also contain the first mention of  an icon "Trinity" painted by Rublyov, to which Stoglavij council recommended to imitate.

Thus, the last works of Daniel and Andrey Rublyov were frescos of  the Trinity Cathedral of St.Sergius' Trinity Monastery near Moscow and the Savior Andronikov monastery in Moscow, made in 20th of XV century.

Until revolution in 1917 the works of  Andrey Rublyov have been hidden under layers of later painting, dirt and  soot.

The most known of his works, that is considered authentic is  "Trinity". The icon has been cleared away only in 1919 (it’s restoration has begun in 1904). After that, there followed restoration of other icons, attributed with more or less  probability to Rublyov.

Initial point for studying creativity of Andrey Rublyov is the well-known "Trinity" decorating an exposition of State Tretjakov gallery.

One of the most difficult questions in studying Rublyov’s art is its early period, including the end of XIV-beginning of XV century (up to 1405г.). This period is not mentioned in annals and other literary works of that time, and restoration paintings are scarce. It is possible to assume, that Andrey Rublyov worked with Theophanes the Greek  in 1405, and participated under his guidance in performance of earlier frescos of the Kremlin cathedrals in 1395 and in 1399.

Frescos of the Blagoveshchensky cathedral in the Kremlin that were also made by Theophanes the Greek and Prohor from Gorodets, were not kept up to now. But 2 circles of an iconostasis of this cathedral, which all researchers date at 1405 remained almost untouched by time and destruction. Specific features of three masters are clearly distinguished on these icons.