The Influence of Historical Events on the Development of Religious Painting in Russia in the Late 19th and Early 20th Centuries

The article analyzes the influence of the complex socio-political situation in Russia at the turn of the 19th-20th centuries, shaped by the repercussions of unsuccessful wars and internal governmental contradictions that precipitated revolutionary events, on the trajectory of religious painting. Both easel paintings depicting Gospel themes and ecclesiastical monumental-decorative art are examined. Various trends in the evolution of religious painting are elucidated. Particular emphasis is placed on a key tendency predicated on the preservation of traditions inherent in old church art, coupled with their reinterpretation and renovation within the framework of innovative modernist explorations of form and artistic language. The artistic output of three prominent masters of religious painting of that era - M.V. Nesterov, V.M. Vasnetsov, and M.A. Vrubel - is scrutinized. Furthermore, a number of other artists who engaged with Christian themes are also referenced. The study aims to illuminate the dialectical relationship between historical context and artistic expression in the specific domain of Russian religious painting during this pivotal period.