The Metamorphosis of Mannerism in Russian Poetry at the Turn of the 19th–20th Centuries: Valery Bryusov and Nikolay Gumilev

Abstract

This article is dedicated to the insufficiently studied topic concerning comparative analysis of European mannerism and neo-mannerist tendencies in Russian modernist poetry. The basis of this analysis is formed by ideas of Ernst Robert Curtius regarding mannerism as a constant theme in European literature and classic art history studies (Max Dvořák, Erwin Panofsky) and modern philological studies dedicated to this style of the 16th century. The article examines the poems from early poetry collections by Valery Bryusov, such as “Juvenilia” (1892–1894), “Chefs d’oeuvre” (1894–1896), “Mе eum esse” (1896–1897), and “Pearls” (1910) by Nikolay Gumilev. It demonstrates that the neo-mannerism in Bryusov’s and Gumilev’s poetry was brought upon by influence of French culture and Art Nouveau style, which reveals in the creation of the contingent, aestheticized and exotic image of the world. The poets use techniques of theatricalization in order to develop plots. A complexity of poetic manner is characteristic, principles of surprise poetics are created in line with it. The picturesque scenes, motifs of narcissism and love games are varied. The topoi of mannerism or early baroque are used. It allows us to talk about the actualization of mannerist model of thinking that embody ideas of aesthetic rebel against tradition.