Architectural images in Precarpathian Iconography of the 16–18th centuries

Abstract

The article reviews the origins of the local tradition of the images of landscape background with elements of architectural content in the Precarpathian region icon-painting. Special attention is focused on the issue of regional specifics of architectural images on the territory of Ivano-Frankivsk region (Western Ukraine). The elements of architectural landscape and its stylistic and compositional features on the examples of specific iconographic scenes of the local iconographic centers in Dolyna, Rohatyn, Voynilіv and Bolehіv second half of the 16th — early 17th centuries are identified. The influence of Renaissance and Baroque aesthetic on the local iconography stylistics has been embodied by architectural images of Renaissance character. The architectural environment, despite some schematic interpretation, is shown in the form of typical architecture with elements of urban culture. These trends are confirmed by the icons of Voyniliv and Bolechiv iconographic center of the first third of the 17th century. The characteristics of city motives interpretation in the iconostasis of the middle — the end of the 17th century — Church of Holy Spirit in Rohatyn (1650) and Church of Exaltation of Holy Cross, Skyt Maniavsky Monastery, painted in 1698–1705 and known as Bohorodchany iconostasis, are analyzed. The iconographic compositions of the middle — end of the 17th century with actual images of urban areas, concrete definition of the events and city views with the motives of defensive walls, towers, domes of temples and gates in the background (Jove Kondzelevych) are defined. Refs 16. Figs 9.