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.
