THE IMAGE OF ANNA YAROSLAVNA IN FINE ARTS: PAST AND PRESENT

Abstract

The article focuses on the iconography of Anna Yaroslavna (around 1032-between 1075 and 1089), the daughter of Yaroslav Mudry (983/98-1054), who was married to Henry I (1027-1060) and acquired the status of Queen of France. The study is based on the most famous portraits created by artists from the Middle Ages to the present day in various types of visual arts - sculpture, painting, graphics, numismatics. It is not known for certain what the princess looked like – rather insignificant evidence about her appearance has been preserved. In historical chronicles, the red hair color of the young wife of Henry I is primarily noted. More often, character traits are emphasized – kindness, generosity, humility, self-sacrifice. Portraits of the daughter of Yaroslav Mudry during his lifetime cause heated discussions in scientific circles. It is hypothesized that the sons and not daughters of Yaroslav the Wise are depicted in St. Sophia Cathedral (11th century). And on the copy of the 18th century from a drawing by the Dutch artist A. van Westerfeld in 1651, another couple is represented – Volodymyr Svyatoslavych and his wife Anna (baptizers of Rus) accompanied by eight princes and princesses. Engraved and sculptural portraits of the 17th century, despite the fashionable image of the era, reveal certain characteristic features of Anna Yaroslavna – thinness, general elegance, elongated face oval. Modern Ukrainian artists (V. Znoba, M. Znoba, G. Sevruk, V. Stelmakh), recreating the image of Anna Yaroslavna, are guided by the well-known engraved image of the Flemish artist Jacobus de Bie in 1643. At the same time, each portrait is distinguished by the author's decision and virtuoso mastery of the material. The presented article is not only the first intelligence covering pictorial and historical sources. The collected material testifies to the significant contribution of national history to the development of the European political and cultural space, is a demonstration of unity and friendly relations between Ukraine and France.