Iconostasis sculpture of the XVIII century churches of the Slobodsky district of the Vyatka province from the collection of the Slobodsky Museum and Exhibition Center

The subject of the study is the peculiarities of carving of the iconostasis wooden sculpture of the XVIII century, made by the masters of Veliky Ustyug, as well as local artisans under their influence. The purpose of the work is to attribute and introduce into scientific circulation - iconostasis wooden sculpture, four figures of angels from the collection of the Slobodsky Museum and Exhibition Center. The paper makes an assumption about the source of receipt and origin of the sculpture, as well as a comparative analysis with Velikoustyuzhsky and Perm iconostasis carvings and wooden plastics. The wooden iconostasis sculpture, while preserving the traditions of Russian Orthodox art, absorbs the features of European art, while at the same time it corresponds to folk art and reflects the features of the Baroque style in local variants. The methodology of the work is based on the principle of stylistic and technological analysis in art history, as well as the principle of historicism in the study of wooden plastics in the context of the development of art in the Russian North. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the fact that four monuments of wooden plastics of the XVIII century from the collection of the Slobodsky Museum are introduced into scientific circulation, their detailed description and stylistic analysis are made. Two paired figures of angels were in the iconostasis and held a frame with a Crucifix, were made by Ustyug craftsmen in the first half of the XVIII century. Two other figures of angels in prayer were made by local craftsmen at the end of the XVIII century, under the influence of Ustyug masters. Further study of the collection of church art of the Slobodsky Museum will allow make reconstructions of the interiors of temples for the museum exposition.