E.A. Skorobogacheva Evolution of the image of St. Nicholas in the arts of Russian North

Abstract: the article traces the evolution of the image of St. Nicholas in the arts of Russian North. The author characterizes the works of iconography, copper casting, sewing, architecture, sculpture, easel painting of XII-XIX centuries and analyzes the potential for researching the Russian North iconography (both, painted and copper). The author consequently examines the genesis, the evolution of iconography of the Saint, stylistic changes, technical and technological traits of a number of works, paying close attention to their attribution and novelty in terms of iconography. The author also demonstrates the correlation of conservatism (tradition) and novelty in iconography and draws a conclusion that the image of St. Nicholas, which has great significance for Russian North, was very close to the people and became an inseparable part of peasant art (with broad variety of individual interpretations). The author points out the following tendencies: firm and timeless tradition, tracing all the way back to religious and philosophical teachings of the Byzantine, as well as the more demotic sources; the low significance of change in iconography with visible stylistic evolution; stability of the religious and philosophical image, preservation of the artistic calligraphy of the Saint’s image in folklore.

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