«Византийский клавир» Александра Александровича Васильева

Abstract

The article is devoted to understanding the originality of the creative nature of the largest Byzantinist of the 20th century, a Russian scientist who became the founder of American Byzantine studies, Alexander Alexandrovich Vasiliev (1867–1953). A. A. Vasiliev entered the history of world science primarily as the author of the systematic work «History of Byzantium», which has not lost its relevance in the scientific and broad public consciousness to the present day. The scientist was an unusually gifted musician-pianist who entered the conservatory, whose passion was the performance of opera claviers. At the same time, he was attracted to the Byzantine East, in-depth scientific knowledge, the fundamental basis for which he received at the Faculty of History and Philology of St. Petersburg University, thanks primarily to academician V. G. Vasilevsky. The scientist used literature in 12 languages. The ability for a holistic and vivid vision of large-scale canvases: both musical and cultural-historical, was embodied in the capacity and detailed distinctness of the “History of Byzantium”. This book became unique among many works of this genre. The author of the article also shows the stages of perception of Vasiliev’s scientific contribution in the history of Russian science, emphasizing the role of Academician I. P. Medvedev, who is the author of the idea of a thorough study and publication of material from the archives of Russian Byzantines in Saint-Petersburg.