Art & History of Russia

Information about the art & History of Russia can help you know the country in a better way. Russia has a background of History and art. According to the History of Russia, in the year 862 the Viking Rurik came to Russia and the first Russian dynasty in Novgorod was founded. Novgorod and Tver were acquired by Duke Ivan III in the late 15th century. Until the reign of Peter the Great Russia mostly remained medieval. During the reign of Peter the Great extensive reforms were made in order to westernize Russia. After Peter the westernization in Russia was continued by Catherine the Great who also expanded Russian territory.

He acquired the Ukraine, Crimea, and part of Poland. Alexander I added new territory to Russia including Finland and Bessarabia. During the reign of Alexander II the borders of Russia were pushed to the Pacific and into central Asia. During the World War I Russia had to face corruption and inefficiency and disorders broke out in certain places.

According to the history of Russia the first East Slavic state was Kievan Rus'. Christianity was adopted by the Kievan Rus' from the Byzantine Empire in 988. This marked the foundation of the synthesis of Byzantine and Slavic cultures. The Rusian culture for the next millennium was defined by this blend of culture. Serfdom in Russia was abolished in 1861. A remarkable changes were made in the economy and politics of Russia by the Stolypin reforms, State Duma and the constitution of 1906. This happened in the time between the abolition of serfdom and the starting of World War I in 1914.

In the year 1917, Russian Revolution took place. The reason behind the revolution was the discontent with the autocratic system of government and at the same time other factors like, war weariness and economic breakdown. As a result of the revolution an alliance of moderate socialists and liberals rose to power the failed policicies adopted by them made the Communist Bolsheviks come to power. The history of Russia between the year 1922 and the year 1991 is actually the history of the Soviet Union. Russia exhibited a diverse society and culture and a mixed economy during the 1920s. The Stalin era showed dominance of command economy and repressions. During the 1980s Russia faced a period of stagnation. In the late 1991 Soviet Union collapsed and Russia gained its independence and came to be known as the legal successor to the Soviet Union.

The art and History of Russia can give you sufficient knowledge about the magnificent country of Russia. Russia has a rich heritage of art. The exotic forms of art with alien sensibilities are something to experience. The country has a great artistic treasure. Icon painting is a part of traditional of Russian art. The Russians inherited the icon painting from Byzantium. The icon tradition in Russia is about the images projected to aid contemplative prayer.

Unlike the pictorial tradition that westerners have become accustomed to, the Russian icon tradition is not about the representation of physical space or appearance. Icons are images intended to aid contemplative prayer, and in that sense they're more concerned with conveying meditative harmony than with laying out a realistic scene. The great examples of icon painting can be seen in the Russian Museum in St. Petersburg and in the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow. During the 17th and 18th centuries Russia was influenced by the European culture and this resulted in the prevalence of western painting in Russia.