Sofia Kyiv biography

Gallery Sofia Kiev in Kyiv - one of the oldest Slavic cities - has preserved many architectural monuments with global significance. Here, on an area of ​​more than 5 hectares, structures are placed that reflect the best achievements of the Old Russian and Ukrainian architecture, painting, mosaics, stone and wood carving.

Among the monuments of this complex, the world -famous Sophia Cathedral, the so -called Kyiv Sophia, built in the year, is distinguished by its high -quality architecture, mosaics and fresco painting. In the city of Sofia Monastery, when erecting to the city, the Sofia Cathedral was not only the main Christian temple of Ancient Rus', the residence of the rulers of the “Metropolis of the Russian”, but also the national center of the new culture.

At the Cathedral, the Center for Chronicle was created and the first library in Rus' was founded. There were also solemn ceremonies, state acts of the prince’s entry into the Grand Ducadial throne, the techniques of ambassadors, etc. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv - a memorial monument of the glory of Russian weapons, erected on the site of one of the largest battles of the XI century G. Over the years, the Sophia Cathedral has also been a place for the burial of some princes and metropolitans.

Vladimir Monomakh, and in the city in his majestic architectural and artistic appearance, perfection of architectural forms and compositions, in the grandiose scale and high skill of architectural and decorative decoration, Sofia Kyiv is not inferior to any of the most outstanding architectural monuments of the world erected at that time. The assumptions of research on the masters-builders of the Kyivsk Cathedral, as well as about masters of painting and artistic and decorative decoration, remain quite controversial and contradictory.

Many researchers believe that the entire culture of Kievan Rus is entirely borrowed from Byzantium, a number of foreign scientists continue to stubbornly defend this point of view. Soviet, and subsequently Russian and Ukrainian scientists on the basis of a deep and comprehensive study of a specific historical situation, in the conditions of which the construction of the Kyiv Council was carried out, the analysis of its peculiar architectural forms and artistic and decorative decoration, came to the conclusion that although the cultural ties of Kievan Rus with Byzantium were of great importance, nevertheless ancient Russian masters were not blindly dense Greek art adopted.

Elements of Byzantine culture were creatively mastered and acquired a national character. Sofia Monastery. The plan of the location of objects on the example of Sofia Kyiv can clearly see how the Kyiv architects, leaving the canons of Byzantine art and relying on local traditions, created their own style, their forms. In Sofia Kyiv, the most outstanding work of ancient Russian art - architecture, painting, sculpture merged into such a holistic ensemble that will forever remain one of the most perfect monumental monuments of his era.

The architectural and building features of the Sofia Cathedral during its more almost millennial existence, Sofiy Cathedral has repeatedly been subjected to fires and looting, alterations and updates, therefore its external architectural appearance has changed significantly. There, no less under all later layers, its previous forms are well preserved, which made it possible for researchers to determine the original appearance of the cathedral.

The mosaics of the Sofia Cathedral, most of the decoration of the Sofia Cathedral has reached our time. The world -famous Sofia mosaics are especially well preserved. Of all the ancient mosaics of the Mosaic of Sofia Kyiv, the most genuine monument of monumental painting of the XI century preserved in the world. The technique of fresco painting ensures the preservation of the painting for many centuries, but it is complex.

The artist, working on raw plaster, should have time to make a drawing in all the details before the plaster dries. This required the masters of painting speed and accuracy in work.