Motions and emotions on the ceremonial portraits of Russian monarchs

Abstract

The article is devoted to the analysis of ceremonial portraits of Russian monarchs of 17^th - early 20^th centuries in terms of motions and expressions of emotions of models. Portrait painting was a long evolution from Parsuna to the chamber, psychological portrait that expresses the personality of the model's personality. Traditions of Western European portraiture ceremonial painting influenced Russian painting, but in Russia they underwent the transformation in connection with the specific objectives of the representation of each of the monarchs.

The author identifies several periods in the history of Russian ceremonial portrait, each of which is characterized by certain types of images. Over time the postures and motions of models, elements of their entourage, symbolic items, allegorical images, even face expressions varied. Some compositional and dynamic types persisted for a long period of time, demonstrating the continuity of power and dynastic unity. For their own representation specific monarchs used for their own representation of certain angles and poses and subordinated the former visual images to new tasks. The ceremonial portrait is thus an essential factor not only in the representation of the power and monarch, but also in the formation of a certain emotional mood that meets certain trends in interaction with society.