The customs and rituals in art

[Art-lover]

The fact that modern life imposes artist all onerous rituals, has been much, in particular - to 24-pages of the topic "How to unleash the artist".

Does this mean that if scientific advances give us control of a time machine, we should expect the mass emigration of painters and sculptors in a more favorable era for art? The question is not simple; before move in time and space, the artist certainly want to compare the pros and cons of its current and new status.
Why not help him in this?

For example, what are the prospects loom for the artist in ancient Mexico:

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"... process of creating works of art in ancient Mexico was considered as a kind of mystery, almost a religious act, for the artist created an image not of man, and cult activities, possessing magical powers, not the image of a deity, but as a god itself, which receives art forms an independent life and ability to influence the existence of people. The process of creating the sculpture was considered so vital and dangerous.

The artist worked in a special closed room where no one could enter under pain of incurring the wrath of the deity. Serious fasting, prayer and sacrifice must be accompanied by creativity, and when the statue was completed, the master lit her own blood. Artists trained in the temples under the guidance of the priests and they themselves were the priests. "

And these obstoyatelstva should bear in mind the potential sculptor Yoruba:

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"sculpture in the old days, preceded by a complex set of magical rites and ceremonies, from selecting a suitable tree and ending with the consecration of the completed works.
Usually cutter (just as the blacksmith, foundry, etc.) became a member of one, and often simultaneously nechkolkih secret societies, for whom he worked. In addition, it was usually a member of the cult of the god of war and fire of Ogun.
The student received after the initiation of new tools, which worked so long until he becomes a master and does not acquire students. Then these tools are hidden in some secret place, although not necessarily in the sanctuary, and for a time t save them as sacred objects. Transfer of new tools to his disciples during initiation ceremonies, accompanied RELEVANT - their ablutions and sacrifices. Sacrificial animals, which are watered with the blood of these tools could eat on their way to conclude the feast.
Before the great new master work normally consults babalavo - priest of the cult of Ifa divination. In the case of adverse "response" in some way fallen kola nuts in the latter could prescribe a sculptor to make a few more sacrifices. The sculptors of the younger generation if they adhere to these practices, it is purely formal, but in the past, they are likely to be fulfilled to the letter.

About how difficult it could be these rituals, shows some of the ritual process of casting bronze sculptures for the secret society Ogboni.
At the first stage of creating a clay model for the future sculpture artist had to comply with wakefulness and fasting for three days until the clay dried workpiece. During this period he made a sacrifice and drink offerings, consisting of secretions of a snail, palm oil, wine and the blood of a dove. Their goal was to emphasize the importance of the clay sculpture as a basis for future material associated with the earth (remember that the main object and the content of the cult Ogboni considered Earth).
At the next stage, when the clay model of "dressed" before casting in wax, to make new sacrifices - this time, pigeons, turtles and snails. In between, the master should have been three times a day to throw cola nuts to make sure that the process of creating sculpture is in accordance with the rules (that is, as always, took place on the system of Ifa divination). The finished casting after cooling, washed, to make new sacrifices, and again threw cola nuts to find out whether you can take it prepared a new image. In the case of "favorable" response committed another sacrifice, sculpture watered with the blood of sacrificial animals (this time a sheep or ducks) and sprinkle with pepper "Gini", which also had to chew the master caster. This completes the magical rites associated with the process of casting the sculpture. Follow the ceremony belongs to the consecration of her, to give it magical powers, etc.

There is no reason to doubt that similar ceremonies in the past and was accompanied by work on a sculpture of wood. "

Russia also artists who want to go for a few centuries ago, without leaving their native lands, we should remember how seriously the good old days of icons:

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"In its proper and strict sense of the word iconic artists can only be holy, and, perhaps most holy hudozhestvovala in this sense, directing their spiritual experience hands icon painters, the most experienced technically, to be able to realize the vision of heaven, and sufficiently educated to be sensitive to the promptings of grace mentor. The possibilities of such cooperation should not be surprising: in previous times, with greater cohesion and communality of people, cultural work is generally performed together, as exemplified by at least Scenic Studios and Artel some great master, even in times of acute personality. In medieval Spike minds under the guidance of spirit-bearer recognized leader in community organization iconography probably was especially perfect. Even if the Gospels and other sacred books were written under. Gospel of Mark - the Apostle Peter, and Luke and the Acts - the Apostle Paul, what is surprising, Brush, submissive and the revelation of eternal beauty, proclaim them saints, portrayed her in their supervision and constant checking on the icons.

But not always Brush was alien to the observer himself Horní ideas, and through the history of the Christian Church, the golden thread running tradition in the proper sense of the holy icons. Beginning with the first witnesses of the Incarnate Word and continue through all the ages are holy, icon-painters themselves, and the icon painters - the saints themselves. Here are some, but even some do not pretend to be exhaustive list of the names of these saints Ikonnikov, led by the evangelist Luke:
"Luke, the Apostle Ananias, St. Nicodemus, Bishop Martin, a disciple of the Apostle Peter, Methodius, Bishop of Moravian, King Manuel Paleologos, Lazarus, Bishop Evandriysky; Herman, the patriarch of Constantinople, teach. Jerome Palestine.
On the Russian icon painter, or write on Russia:
St. Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia miracle worker, and St. Macarius the most wonderful and marvelous, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia, His Holiness Bishop Athanasius, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia, St. Theodore the archbishop of Rostov miracle worker; teach. hieromonk father Alimpiy presbyter, Pecherskyi miracle worker, house painter Kiev; teach. Father Gregory Caves, house painter Kiev; teach. Dionysius the father, the abbot Glushitsky, Vologda Miracle Worker, "teach. Father Anthony, the abbot of Siya and Kolmogorsky miracle worker;
Teach. Father Andrew Radonezh, house painter, an epithet rubles; teach. father, Daniel, spostnik his house painter a fine, the call of the Black ...

These and similar icon painters belong icon painting art, new icons, pervoyavlennye. But in addition to breeding again manifest evidence of the spiritual world. And as word about the spiritual needs of the copyist, so iconic image of the spiritual needs of repeaters, Ikonnikov-copyist. They are not required orly eyes to heaven, but they should not be so far removed from spirituality, so as not to feel the importance and responsibility of his case as evidence or, more precisely, the promotion certificate. These Ikonnikov - not artisans to earn some money writing an icon, how could they write the opposite, no equipment of its cause, among other things belonging to, and perhaps do not belong to the Church, but carriers of a special ecclesiastical posts. They of mind of the Church, have a certain rank of sacred organization of worship, occupy a special place in the theocracy and the members of the Church is recognized as an icon painters. Their place is defined between the altar and just lay. They required a special life polumonasheskoe behavior, and they are subject to special supervision of the Metropolitan, the local bishop and deliberately iconic appointed chiefs. Church exalts icon painters, bowing and secular power to the gift of this church rank the various strengths and, in some cases, emergency awards, such as, for unheard-of in the XVII century, the gift of nobility to the famous Simon Ushakov. On the other hand, the Church recognizes the need to monitor not only for their work, as such, but for themselves.
... not retroactively to check the icon: if they really need to see clear evidence of eternity, then how can such a certificate to go through the man, essentially alien to spirituality? That's the reason for non-compliance by a painter of some statute of life - the Church fears ruin the integrity of the Cult. So there are requirements icon painter in his personal life. Especially, they definitely were made then that is when the icons already reached its highest point. This was done in the 43rd chapter orders Stoglavy.

Conciliar definition reads as follows:
"But in the kingdom city of Moscow and all hail to the king's Council of Metropolitan and the Archbishop and the Bishop of brechi on the manifold church chineh. even more so about the holy icons and zhivopistseh and other chineh church on the sacred rule, and what ought to be alone and the painter have the diligence of the mark plotskago imagination of God and our Savior and (Christ and His Most Pure Mother, and the heavenly powers and all the saints from the beginning of his ilk Gods lands. is proper to be alone painter humility mildly reverently neprazdnoslovtsu nesmehotvortsu nesvarlivu nezavistlivu nepyanitsy negrabezhniku neubiitsy. of those that also hraniti purity and inward with vsyatsem fear, they can not until the end of the same taco arrival to the law and marriage marries sochetatisya. prihoditi to the Father and the spiritual nachaste and throughout izveschatisya and their punishment, and teaching zhiti in fasting and prayer, and abstinence from humility than vsyakago gap and bezchinstva. and with the greatest of diligence писати image of our Lord Jesus Christ and His Most Pure Mother of God and holy prophets and apostles and the Holy Martyr, and the holy martyrs and saints and female saints and the reverend in the image and likeness on the merits of looking at the image of the ancient painters and znamenovati with good samples. If ye are current and wizards painters taco obeschavshesya uchnut zhiti and every commandment tvoriti and diligence on the case of God have. and the king of painters zhalovati. and Bishop and their brechi pochitati more than the ordinary person. so Sjá einnig painter priimati students and their razsmatrivati around and teach about all godliness and honesty and privoditi to the Father, the spiritual fathers as they are punishable by a devotee of the statute of Fathers kako befits zhiti hrestyaninu except vsyakago gap and bezchinstva. and tacos from their masters but attentive study, and which ashche otkryet God such Needlework and leads to the master to the prelate. prelate same razsmotrev If ye be written by a pupil in the image and likeness, and take away knowledge of the Life of his hedgehog in all godliness and purity of the commandments is living apart vsyakago bezchinstva. abie blessing punished him and continue blagochestno zhiti and holy cause "Nadezhda vsyatsem stick with the diligence. and accept from him that the honor student and teacher yakozhe him more than the ordinary person. "


But this idea of the high service icon painter was not only the domain of time and the Local Church. In particular, the icon painting tradition of the Eastern Churches, as enshrined in a special guide to the icon-painting inspires Ikonnikov, even in such apparently external works as washing old icons, in order to address them: "but do not do their business just as horrible and, but with fear and reverence of God: for thy work pleasing to God, "etc. The famous" Erminiya or Manual in the scenic art, drawn priest and painter Dionysius Furnoagrafiotom, come together to articulate stories Panselinovskoy school, begins with an introduction in which the author clarifies his sense of spiritual responsibility, prompted him to compile this guide.
...
  Here "preliminary instructions to anyone who wants to study painting": "who wants to learn painting let believes the first principle, and some time practicing drawing and painting, without any size, while navyknet. Then he shall offer the prayer of him to the Lord Jesus Christ before the icon of Odigitrii. The priest, after "Blessed is our God", "O Heavenly King" and so on. and after Bogorodyts'ka: silent mouth of the wicked, "and the Troparion of the Transfiguration, naznamenovav his head a cross, let the exclamation:" Let us pray to the Lord, and read this prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, our God, Sy undescribed by nature deities, and for the salvation of man In the last days of the Virgin Mary Mother of God is inexpressible voplotivyysya and blagovolivy taco opisy'em be alone in the flesh, the holy image of his ilk prechistago Lika in thy holy towel napechatlel Thou, and onym ailment Prince Avgar didst heal the soul as its lumen in the ZIL Thou poznati istinnago God ours ilk Holy Spirit Thou shall instruct Bozhestvennago Thy Apostle and Evangelist Luke написати image of Thy Most Pure Mother, to keep you, like a baby on her bosom, and rekshey: "The grace of Rozhdshagosya Mene, Mene's sake, let it be with this, read" Sam, Lord, God of all sorts, enlighten and to teach the soul, heart and mind of thy servant (name of river), and hands it to the right, in the hedgehog and innocently pretty izobrazhati permit Thy Thy Most Pure Mother, and all the saints, in Thy glory, for the sake of decoration and adornment Thy holy churches, and the remission of all sins, spiritual worship the holy icons, and reverently kissed onyya, and worship related to the prototype. Forbid that the same from his vsyakago diavolskago obsession, when thou succeeds in Thy commandments, Thy prayers of the Most Pure Mother, slavnago holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke, and all the saints. Amen.
Augmented Litany and released.

After the prayer, let him begin to draw the exact dimensions and features the faces of the saints and let the charge of this long and distinctly. Then, with God's help to understand their business very well, as I experience doznal on his disciples. " And then, explaining his desire to benefit "all sohudozhnikam brethren in Christ," which the author requests to pray for him, he "drew his word with great love" to the student: "So, the inquisitive student, know that when you wish to do this Arts, try to find an experienced teacher, who was soon to assess if it will teach you as much as I said above. " And the above mentioned almost exclusively on prayer, and, therefore, guarantee the success of training Dionysius, expressing the common voice of icon, sees in prayerful reverence. Such was the atmosphere of icon painting skills in the first half of XVIII century, when the secularization of all life, including the church, reached a particularly acute. Reverent spirit, and a special mood to this day lives in the environment of Russian icon painters, forming a whole village, and from generation to generation for centuries, passed to each other, from father to son, and spiritual consciousness, as workers of a sacred cause, and polusekretnye techniques of icon painting and other related her work processes. This is - closed, special world of witnesses. And if until now he is such, it is difficult even to imagine a spirited environment from which the costs of the church body, witnessing the beauty of heaven, in ancient times, when life was organized on principles of spirituality, revolving around the axis of the unshakable - the Holy Mysteries of Christ. "

(based on the "iconostasis" Paul Florensky)