Dionysius
(about 1440 - 1508)

Unlike other famous painters of Old Russia, Theophanes the Greek and Andrei Rublev, biographical details of which barely survived, Dionysus is a rare exception. Although the date of his birth and death are very approximate, about the work of the master, his work orders and know quite a lot.

 An exceptional destiny, talent and high patrons - the Grand Duke and the higher spiritual personages - provided the most favorable conditions for the master.

 The first of the major orders received Dionysius between 1467 and 1477., When he was asked to participate in the decoration of the church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin in the Puff-nutevo-Borovsky monastery. Here, he has not worked quite independently, but under the master Metrophanes, who is called by his teacher. But even then manifested individual style and bright young talent of the icon painter, as the documents mention about both painters as "preslovuschih <...> above all in the fact per se."

 In 1481 Dionysius has a new honorary Order: along with three other artists, he had to carry out the icons for the iconostasis of the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin, for deesis, festive and prophetic rank (ranks of the iconostasis). About how highly regarded young iconographer, shows a rare fact in those days: the customer, the lord Vassian, before the start of work the deposit paid to artists - 100 rubles. Then it was a considerable sum. Researchers believe that the hand of Dionysius belonged mainly deesis rank, that is the most crucial part of the job.

 Deesis this was "Velma's wonderful," and even more glorified the name of Dionysius. Since then, he has earned the reputation as the "master preizyaschnogo" and represented the Moscow school of icon painting. A favorite of Ivan III and the famous persecutor of heretics Joseph of Volokolamsk, by order of which he wrote more than 80 icons, Dionysius was the official carrier of the grand tradition in art. Composition of his works are characterized by simple solemnity, paints were bright, elegantly elongated proportions of the figures, heads, hands and feet of the saints petite faces and always beautiful. However, they should not have to look any passion Theophanes the Greek, nor the depth of the images of Andrei Rublev. Bright festive and splendor of his works, their refinement of color meet the requirements of the time: Moscow Russia experienced its heyday.

 In 1482 Dionysius wrote for Ascension Monastery of Moscow Kremlin icon "Virgin Protectress." A favorite master light golden background, purple maphory (apparel) Our Lady, her solemn posture and slavoslovyaschie angels created a majestic common system image.

 A lot of work carried out for Dionysius Joseph of Volokolamsk and Pavlo-Obnorski monasteries. In particular, for the latter, he wrote "The Crucifixion", which was placed in the iconostasis of the cathedral. Center icon's board, emphasizing its vertical, took a picture of the cross on which the crucified Savior. Drooping head, like a halo of wilted flower, outspread like stems, hands and plastically curved body creates a solemn and sad mood. Wordlessly, frozen figures coming - Mary, John, and came to them and the warrior women - are symmetrically arranged on either side of the cross mournful group. They echo the figures of angels in the upper register, and placed even higher over the crossbar of the cross, images of the Sun and the Moon, symbolizing the cosmic significance of the event. Angels watching over running of the heavenly bodies, leading them from the sky.