Dutch-Flemish Themes in the Russian Still-Life in the 18th – First Half of the 19th Century. Typological Features and Problems of Interpretation

DUTCH-FLEMISH THEMES IN THE RUSSIAN STILL-LIFE IN THE 18TH – 1ST HALF OF THE 19TH CENTURY. TYPOLOGICAL FEATURES AND PROBLEMS OF INTERPRETATION Abstract Current study is devoted to the typology of Russian still-life in the 18th – 1st half of the 19th century through the prism of Dutch-Flemish pictorial tradition and to the various interpretations that are formulated based on European and Russian Emblematics and social-cultural phenomenon of that period. The research presents the following types of the still-life: “vanitas”, still-life with attributes of sciences, “trompe l'oeil” and fruit and flower paintings. There are a number of research methods that allows investigating this problem profoundly. The most important one is iconological that reveals objects` symbolism in paintings. Then the comparative and social-historical approach is used in this paper. Moreover, this study appeals to the culturological and semiotic fields to illustrate the close relationship in “icon” thinking between Russian and Dutch-Flemish painters. The research gives new perspective on interpretation of Russian still-life which forms due to analyzing Dutch and Flemish Emblem book. However, the major accent is made on Russian “Symbola et Emblemata” of Peter I. According to the study, the similarities between Russian and Dutch-Flemish still-lifes were highlighted. Nevertheless, the paper also points out the identity of object world and interpretation of Russian painting.