Ekphrastic discourse in the novel «The virgin blue» by Tracy Chevalier

In the present article the novel «The Virgin Blue» by Tracy Chevalier is analyzed in the aspect of ekphrastic discourse, which is defined as participation of visual art images in creation and reception of a literary text. The functions of ekphrasis in creation of the plot and conflict of the novel are being studied. The ekphrasises of sculpture, stained-glass window, fresco, painting on biblical plots and the characters' perception and interpretation of the ekphrasises are considered. Symbolism of the blue and rusty (red and yellow) colours is analyzed with the reference to the images of the feminine characters of the novel. Some postmodern peculiarities of the British novel composition on the verge of the XX-XXI centuries are revealed.