“Gardeners” of the dynastic trees of Russian princes and tsars. About variations of one micro-plot in the East Slavic art of the 17th century

Abstract

In the East Slavic art of the 17^th century images of the trees of the spiritual genealogy of Russian princes and tsars became widespread. Such compositions were present in book engraving, icon painting and fresco. Despite the general similarity, they differ in sets of images and micro-plots. The differences are due to the specific intent of each of the works. The article examines the micro-plot of the “planting” of the family tree as the most sapid and with its own variations. It’s included in the iconographic composition of five works of art from the second half of the 17^th – early 18^th centuries. In the paper, special attention is paid to the peculiarities of the depiction of the “gardeners” of the dynastic trees (Princess Olga, Prince Vladimir, Prince Ivan Kalita and Metropolitan Peter) and some other characters, as well as their attributes. With all the diversity of the personifications of “gardeners”, “body language” and symbols used by artists, iconographic solutions in each case worked for the one general idea. The czar dynasties of the Russian state were presented as clans founded by “right” rulers who gave their subjects state establishment and order, and also “enlightened” them with the Christian faith.