Russian artists were not able to surpass the extraordinary imagery of the Last Judgment by Hieronymus Bosch and Michelangelo, or the map of Dante's Hell by Sandro Botticelli. But Russian icon painters, and later realist and Avant-garde artists, also depicted the themes of heavenly Paradise and the underground fiery abyss of eternal damnation.
Many Russian artists painted variations on the theme of Biblical subjects. And what magnificent paintings they created for Orthodox churches! The subject of Heaven and Hell especially touched Wassily Kandinsky and Nikolai Roerich.
Unknown Novgorod Master, “Descent into Hell”, late 14th century.
State Russian Museum
Andrei Rublev’s workshop, “The Descent into Hell”, 1425-1427.
Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius
Dionysius’s workshop, “The Descent into Hell”, circa 1502 - 1503.
State Russian Museum
Kirill Ulanov (Cornelius), “The Descent into Hell”, 1713 (icon from the Krivozersky Monastery on the banks of the Volga River).
State Russian Museum
Ivan Belsky, “Assumption of Our Lady into Heaven”, 1779.
State Russian Museum
Feodor Bruni, “The Last Judgment” (mural in St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg), 1840s.
Ninara (CC BY 3.0)
Feodor Bruni, “The Creator Blessing His Creation”, 1840s (mural in St. Isaac's Cathedral, St. Petersburg).
Ninara (CC BY 3.0)
Mikhail Nesterov, “Adam and Eve”, 1898.
State Russian Museum
Mikhail Nesterov, “The Descent of Christ into Hell”, 1895.
Sketch for the iconostasis of the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood in St. Petersburg.
State Russian Museum
Mikhail Nesterov, “Ascension of the Lord”, 1895. Sketch.
State Russian Museum
Viktor Vasnetsov, “The Mother of God”, 1901.
Sketch of a mosaic for the Russian Orthodox Church in Darmstadt, Germany.
State Russian Museum
Viktor Vasnetsov, “The Last Judgment”, 1904.
Vladimir-Suzdal Museum-Reserve
Wassily Kandinsky, “Angel of the Last Judgment”, 1911.
Lenbachhaus, Munich
Wassily Kandinsky, “The Last Judgment”, 1912.
Private collection
Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin, “The Expulsion from Paradise”, 1911.
Private collection
Vladimir Baranov-Rossine, “Adam and Eve”, 1912.
Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, Madrid
Nicholas Roerich, “The Descent into Hell”, 1933.
State Museum of Oriental Art
Nicholas Roerich, “Madonna Laboris”, 1933.
Pavel Chelishchev, “Phenomena”, 1938 (first part of the unfinished triptych "Hell, Purgatory, Paradise").
State Tretyakov Gallery
Marc Chagall, “Paradise”, 1960.
Dear readers,
Our website and social media accounts are under threat of being restricted or banned, due to the current circumstances. So, to keep up with our latest content, simply do the following:
- Subscribe to our Telegram channel
- Subscribe to our weekly email newsletter
- Enable push notifications on our website
- Install a VPN service on your computer and/or phone to have access to our website, even if it is blocked in your country