MYTHS OF RUSSIAN SYMBOLISTS ABOUT LEONARDO DA VINCI (TO THE 570TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GENIUS)
https://doi.org/10.18384/2310-7227-2022-3-46-60
Abstract
Aim. To show that the reception of Leonardo’s creativity and personality in Russia of the 19–21 centuries is, to a large extent, the projection of actual problems of Russian national culture onto his image and an attempt to identify socio-cultural perspectives of spiritual achievements of the “silver age” era.
Procedure and methods. The study is based on a comparative approach. Methods of observation, generalization, interpretation and discursive analysis are also used.
Results. In the course of the work, it is proved that if in Western Europe late Romanticism and symbolism formed a special myth about Leonardo, which remained primarily a literary and artistic phenomenon, then Russian symbolism quickly merged with philosophical and religious-mystical searches and created a number of myths about the Italian genius, closely related to the most pressing problems of the radical transformation of Russian spirituality. The most important myth about Leonardo influencing Western culture, was the literary myth formed by D.S. Merezhkovsky, one of the initiators of the “Russian spiritual Renaissance” and Russian symbolism. In the unique and peculiar work of each Russian symbolist of the early twentieth century, his own unique myth about Leonardo was formed, which included an essential mystical component.
Research implications. It is shown that in Russian symbolism, the Italian genius was considered to be not only a universal master and an outstanding scientist, but a complex, restless personality endowed with a deep and contradictory soul, reflected in his masterpieces of enduring value. Among the symbolists, there was no unity of views on the personality and creativity of Leonardo: between the elder and “younger” symbolists, they differed radically; accordingly, the myths about Leonardo were different. They were united by a common reading of Leonardo’s creative spirit, which had a frankly mystical character.
About the Author
V. V. Kravchenko
Moscow aviation institute (National research university)
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Victoria V. Kravchenko — Dr. Sci. (Philosophy), Prof., Department of Linguistics and Theory of Translation
125993, Moscow, Volokolamskoye shosse 4G
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