To the history of the appearance of frescoes by Andrey Rublev and Daniil Cherniy in the Assumption Cathedral of Vladimir

Abstract

The article discusses the reasons and circumstances of the trip made by the famous icon painters Andrei Rublev and Daniil Cherny in 1408 to Vladimir-on-Klyazma in 1408, commissioned by the Grand Prince Vasily Dmitrievich in order to «renew» frescos of the Assumption Cathedral. The trip resulted in one of the most famous fresco ensembles of the Russian Middle Ages. In historiography, it is customary to explain the arrival of the icon painters to Vladimir by the constant concern of the Grand Prince authorities about the cultural and political «Vladimir heritage». The article suggests that a possible reason for the beginning of the works was the preparation of Vladimir and other cities on the former lands of the Grand Principality of Vladimir for their transfer to the governance of the Lithuanian Prince Svidrigailo Olgerdovich. In the summer of 1408 Svidrigailo left for Russia accompanied by the Bryansk bishop, Lithuanian Orthodox princes, boyars and a military squad. Awarding the ancient capital of the Great Principality to the new «servant» of the Grand Prince Vasily Dmitrievich Vladimir was unprecedented. Vladimir-on-Klyazma was never mentioned among the Russian territories granted to other Lithuanian princes who passed into the service of Moscow in the 14–15th centuries. Svidrigailo Olgerdovich’s «departure» and the simultaneous commanding of the icon painters to the city to work on the paintings of the cathedral was hardly an accident. At the end of the same year, Svidrigailo Olgerdovich left his new «service», and due to that the works on frescos were suspended and never not resumed in the future.