The Oxford Dictionary by
Hornby gives us the following definition of the notion "art”. "Art”
is the creation or expression of what is beautiful, especially in visual
form. Drawing, painting, sculpture, architecture, literature, music,
ballet belong to the fine art”.
Really when something is
extremely beautiful or has great cultural value, we say: "It’s art”. Art
has always been occupation for the few, but has been admired by many.
Art reflects feelings and emotions, brings delight and admiration, and
makes life pure as it awakens our best hidden qualities. Speaking about
art, we connect this notion with culture. According to the dictionary
culture of a community or a nation includes all the arts, beliefs and
social institutions characteristic of a community or a nation. We can
speak about either material, or spiritual culture. Art is both. Russia
is a country that can rightfully boast its artistic and cultural
traditions; its art galleries attract huge crowds of tourists from all
over the world. St. Petersburg is a precious stone in the crown of
Russian cities. The Hermitage is famous all over the world for its
valuable rare collections of canvases and other art objects covering a
span of about seven hundreds years and comprising masterpieces of by
Leonardo da Vinci, Titian, Raphael, Rembrandt, Rubens. The collections
illustrate the art of Italy, Spain, Holland, Germany, France, Britain,
Sweden. The West-European Department also includes a fine collection of
European Sculpture. People come to admire the collections of tapestry,
precious textiles, weapons, ivory, pottery, porcelain and furniture as
well. The Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, the Russian Museum should be
mentioned by all means. This picture gallery was founded by a Russian
merchant and a connoisseur of art Pavel Tretyakov in the 19th century.
He was especially fond of the works of Peredvizhniki – the artists who
belonged to the Society of Travelling Art Exhibitions such as Kramskoy,
Perov, Ghe and other great Russian painters. The Tretyakov Gallery
reflects the whole history of Russian Art. It has a rich collection of
early Russian painting including famous icon. The world famous "The
Trinity” by Andrey Rublev is exhibited in the gallery. Speaking about
art one should not forget about music, especially classic music.
Outstanding Russian composers make all the world admire their music. One
can find a man, who does not know Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Michail
Glinka, Nicholaj Rimsky-Korsakov – the prominent composers of 19th
century, and Sergei Rachmaninov, Sergei Prokofiev and Dmitriy
Shostakovich. It was Glinka who laid the foundation for modern
Russian music, his music expressed the temperament of Russian people.
His two best known operas "Ivan Susanin” and "Ruslan and Ludmila” were
based on Russian folklore and historical legends. The most famous
ballets "Swan Lake”, "The Sleeping Beauty”, "The Nutcracker” and not
less famous operas "The Queen of Spades”, "Eugenij Onegin” are still
excellently staged and performed not only in Russian but in many
greatest theatres in the world. Russia is world famous for its
literature. The "golden age” of Russian literature began in the 19th
century when such outstanding masters of letters such as Pushkin,
Lermontov, Gogol, Turgenev, Dostoeyevsky created their immortal
masterpieces. Alexander Pushkin, the father of Russian Literature was
the author of more than 700 lyrical poems. He wrote also the volumes of
dramatic works, short stories, made adaptations of Russian fairy-tales. Russia
is famous for its architecture. The real jewel of architecture is the
Moscow Kremlin with its cathedrals, towers and red brick walls. Just
outside the Kremlin walls stands St. Basil`s Cathedral, one of the world
most astonishing buildings with 8 domes of different designs and
colors. St. Petersburg has great number of real masterpieces of
architecture of different styles and is definitely worth visiting and
being admired. Russia is also rich in young talents, forming new
Russian culture. They appeared on the basis of the old one, but their
essence is new. We can hear new voices in music and poetry, see new
canvases of modern artists, watch great actors. All of them will make
their contribution into Russian Culture and Art.
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