Church of the Myrrh-Bearing Women, Veliky Ustyug

The Church of the Myrrhbearers was built in 1714-1722. by order of the Ustyug merchant T.R. Khudyakova. The lower floor - the basement - according to the ancient tradition, is left without decor, it is a utility room. The upper floor is decorated in the Naryshkin Baroque style, which is rarely used in the architecture of Veliky Ustyug. In the decoration of the church one can see the searches of the Ustyug masters, their desire to keep up with the times.
The artist painted this life-size sketch in one session during his summer internship at the Academy in Veliky Ustyug in the summer of 2001. This artwork, framed in an ornate golden border, captures a serene landscape dominated by a striking white church with distinctive green domes. The Church of the Myrrh-Bearing Women stands majestically against the vibrant blues and soft pinks of the sky, adding a sense of tranquility and spirituality to the scene. Surrounding the church in Veliky Ustyug, lush green foliage creates a vivid contrast, emphasizing natures interplay with the architecture. The artist skillfully uses light and shadow, enhancing the texture of the foliage and the churchs structure. The paintings composition leads the viewers eye seamlessly from the foreground to the background, conveying depth and serenity. The rich colors and detailed brushwork highlight the artists mastery in capturing the harmony between nature and human-made structures. This piece stands out for its vibrant color palette and the harmonious balance it achieves between the built environment and natural surroundings.
Exhibition:
2012 “Visible Images”, personal exhibition at the exhibition hall of the Russian Auction House in Gostiny Dvor, Moscow.
2016 The personal exhibition "Without formulas" in the gallery of the Transfiguration Cathedral, the State Vladimir-Suzdal Museum-Reserve. (Suzdal)
2024 The exhibition "Tail-wind". Museum and exhibition complex "Academy of Watercolor and Fine Arts of Sergey Andriaka". (Moscow)
Publication:
Златоверховникова О.Н. Семён Кожин. – М.: Принт люкс, 2007. – 120 с. Page 83
Семён Кожин. Зримые образы: [каталог персональной выставки] / Российский аукционный дом. – СПб.: Рекламное агентство MCMG, 2012. – 32 с. Page 9
Цветнова Т.Е. Семён Кожин. – М.: Белый город, Воскресный день 2016. – 208 с. – (Русская традиция). Page 98