In November 1897, the Imperial Academy of Art
held an exhibition and a solemn act of awarding the title of artist. This title
was given Nicholas Roerich for his painting The Messenger. Tribe has risen against tribe, or, as it was listed
in the reports of the Academy, Slavs and
Vikings.
Tribe has risen against tribe - how many
spectacular moments this theme promises an artist: a sudden attack, lights of
fires... But there is no ostentatious admiring of the old. At first glance, the
plot seems to be very modest and non-winning. A messenger with a rower thread through a river at night. An internal war broke out, and he is quick to warn the
neighbors, or perhaps, to ask for their help. The messenger is rather old and has
seen a lot in his life. Therefore, he has been outfitted for the dangerous path.
He is concerned. He has to find the words so that people believe him and
respond. Will it be possible to stop the blood feud or will it flare up even
more? The landscape on the painting takes the viewer into the past. Peaked tent
buildings surrounded by a fence are seen on the shore. In some places, there
are muted lights of twinkling fires. The soft light of the moon pulls out of some
dark figures floating in a boats, increasing their anxiety and alertness. The
picture captures one’s imagination and makes the viewer empathise.
Tretyakov Gallery bought the painting directly
from the show. The young artist was warmly welcomed by Stasov (an outstanding
connoisseur and critic). Nicholas Roerich was overjoyed when Stasov said to
him: “Surely you must visit Tolstoy... No one will appreciate your Messenger like Tolstoy. He will immediately comprehend
what message your Messenger is in a
hurry with."
Stasov was right promising that Tolstoy would
say something about the picture. Speaking to the author of The Messenger Leo Tolstoy said: “Have you ever had to cross a fast
river on a boat? You should always reign above the place where you need to, otherwise
the river will drift you off the course. And in the field of moral requirements
one should always steer higher - life will carry away everything. Let your
messenger keep the rudder very high then he will reach the destination!”
Many times over the life of a great artist
recalled these parting words of Leo Tolstoy. In his letters he repeatedly
stated: "Steer higher!"
In half a century Roerich wrote: "It is no
accident, my first painting was The
Messenger, and since then various Messengers have been my favorite subject.”
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| Sketch, 1897 |