Art and culture
The Oxford Advancer Learner`s Dictionary of Current English by Hornby
gives us the following definition of the notion «art». “«Art» is the
creation or expression of what is beautiful, especially in visual form.
Drawing, painting, sculpture, architecture, literature, music, ballet
belong to the fine art”.
Really when something is extremely beautiful or has great cultural
value, we say: “It`s art”. Art has always been occupation for the few,
but has been admired by many. Art reflects feelings and emotions, brings
delight and admiration, makes life pure as it wakens our best hidden
qualities. Speaking about arts, we connect this notion with culture.
According to the dictionary culture of a community or nation includes
all the arts, beliefs and social institutions characteristic of a
community or nation. We can speak about either material, or spiritual
culture. Art is both.
Russia is a country that can rightfully boast its artistic and cultural
traditions, its art galleries attract huge crowds of tourists from all
over the world. St`Petersburg is a precious stone in the crown of
Russian cities. The Hermitage is famous all over the world for its
valuable rare collections of canvases and other art objects covering a
span of about seven hundreds years and comprising masterpieces of by
Leonardo da Vinci, Titian, Raphael, Rembrandt, Rubens. The collections
illustrates the art of Italy, Spain, Holland, Germany, France, Britain,
Sweden. The West – European Department also includes a fine collection
of European Sculpture. People come to admire the collections of
tapestry, precious textiles, weapons, ivory, pottery, porcelain and
furniture as well.
The Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, the Russian Museum should be mentioned
by all means. This picture gallery was founded by a Russian merchant
and a connoisseur of art Pavel Tretyakov in the 19th century. He was
especially fond of the works of Peredvizhniki or Wanders- the artists
who belonged to the Society of Travelling Art Exhibitions such as
Kramskoy, Perov, Ghe and other great Russian painters. The Tretyakov
Gallery reflects the whole history of Russian Art. It has a rich
collection of early Russian painting including famous icon. The world
famous «The Trinity» by Andrey Rublev is exhibited in the gallery.
Speaking about art one should not forget about music, especially classic
music. Outstanding Russian composers make all the world admire their
music. One can find a man, who does not know Pyotr Ilyich Tchaicovsky,
Michail Glinka, Nicholai Rimsky-Korsakov – the prominent composers of
19th century, and Sergei Rachmaninov, Sergei Prokofiev and Dmitriy
Shostakovich.
It was Glinka (1804-1857) who laid the foundation for modern Russian
music, his music expressed the temperament of Russian people. His two
best known operas «Ivan Susanin» and «Ruslan and Ludmila» were based on
Russian folklore and historical legends.
The most famous ballets «Swan Lake», «The Sleeping Beauty», «The
Nutcracker» and not less famous operas «The Queen of Spades», «Eugine
Onegin» are still excellently staged and performed not only in Russian
but in many greatest theatres in the world.
Russia is world famous for its literature. The «golden age» of Russian
literature began in the 19th century when such outstanding masters of
letters such as Alexander Pushkin, Lermontov, Gogol, Turgenev,
Dostoeyevsky created their immortal masterpieces.
Alexander Pushkin, the father of Russian Literature was the authors of
more than 700 lyrical poems. He wrote also the volumes of dramatic
works, short stories, made adaptations of Russian fairy-tales.
Russia is famous for its architecture. The real jewel of architecture is
the Moscow Kremlin with its cathedrals, towers and red brick walls. Just
outside the Kremlin walls stands St.Basil`s Cathedral, one of the world
most astonishing buildings with 8 domes of different designs and colors.
St.Petersburg has great number of real masterpieces of architecture of
different styles and is definitely worth visiting and being admired.
Russia is rich also in young talents, new Russian culture is forming. It
will appear on the basis of the old one, but its essence will be new. We
can hear new voices in music and poetry, new canvases of modern
artists, great actors and film directors.
All of them will make their contribution into Russian Culture and Art.
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