Alexander Nevsky # 31 Alexander Nevsky (Russian War) Roerich N.K. (Part 5)
Roerich N.K. – Alexander Nevsky # 31 Alexander Nevsky (Russian War)
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Location: Collection H.K. Kejrila. India. Bangalore
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The painting "Alexander Nevsky" was painted in 1942 in honor of the 700th anniversary of the battle on Lake Chudskoe. During the war years, when the theme of patriotism became more relevant than ever, Nikolai Konstantinovich Roerich repeatedly turned to the heroic pages of Russian history. His heroic cycle included such works as "Yaroslav", "Victory", "Mstislav Udaloy", "Boris and Gleb" and others. On the canvas depicts Alexander Yaroslavich, who received for the victory over the Swedes the nickname Nevsky.
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Description of the painting "Alexander Nevsky" by Nikolai Roerich
The painting "Alexander Nevsky" was painted in 1942 in honor of the 700th anniversary of the battle on Lake Chudskoe. During the war years, when the theme of patriotism became more relevant than ever, Nikolai Konstantinovich Roerich repeatedly turned to the heroic pages of Russian history. His heroic cycle included such works as "Yaroslav", "Victory", "Mstislav Udaloy", "Boris and Gleb" and others.
On the canvas depicts Alexander Yaroslavich, who received for the victory over the Swedes the nickname Nevsky. The painting strikes with bright colors, contrasting and clear lines. The crimson sky represents the heat of the battle that has just ended. In the snow beneath the hooves of the victors’ horses are the bodies of the defeated enemies, the Germans. The pinkish reflections on the snow are not only a reflection of the sky, but also the colors of blood mixed and dissolved by the snow. Sunset colors and grayish haze convey the silence of dusk.
The battle is over. The silhouette of Alexander Nevsky, slightly bowed his head. He pulls on the reins and his faithful horse crouches, slipping on the steep slope. Stopping, the prince looks intently into the face of the fallen Russian warrior. He, clad in a bright red cloak, lies on his back with his arms outstretched to his sides, his face clearly outlined against the crimson sky. The warriors following the prince also halt in sorrow.
Not the joy of victory portrayed by the artist, but the bitterness and horror of any battle, the price to pay for the triumph. Nicholas Roerich showed the grief of the commander and the army for their fallen brothers. The chosen subject emphasizes the peculiarities of the sensitive soul of the Russian man, who is able to feel pity and compassion.
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Here we see a palette dominated by warm tones – reds, oranges, and yellows – which infuse the scene with an unsettling intensity. The sky, painted in broad strokes of crimson and rose, contributes to this atmosphere, evoking not just sunset but also perhaps a sense of foreboding or even symbolic bloodiness. The limited range of colors reinforces a feeling of stylized representation rather than realistic depiction.
The figures on horseback are depicted with a certain rigidity; their poses are formal, almost ceremonial. They appear less as active participants in the battle and more as observers, surveying the consequences of violence. Their armor is rendered in simplified geometric shapes, further emphasizing the lack of individual detail and suggesting a collective identity or symbolic representation of power.
The fallen soldiers below are similarly treated with a degree of abstraction; their forms are fragmented and piled together, reducing them to anonymous casualties. The presence of banners – one prominently displayed – hints at national or ideological conflict.
Subtly, the painting seems to explore themes of victory and loss, but not in a celebratory manner. Instead, there is an underlying sense of melancholy and perhaps even critique. The stylized rendering and the detached perspective suggest a commentary on the cost of war and the impersonal nature of large-scale conflict. It’s as if the artist intended to convey not just the event itself, but also its broader implications for society and human existence.