Aleksandr Ivanov and Nikolai Gogol´: The Image and the Word in the Russian Tradition of Art as Prophecy

Abstract

The Russian image of the artist as a prophet is generally regarded as a verbal construct, developed through literary tradition. The paper introduces a new perspective: the role of the visual arts. Focusing on the relationship between Aleksandr Ivanov (1806-58) and Nikolai Gogol' (1809-52), it argues that Ivanov's visual treatment of prophecy (in 'The Appearance of the Messiah to the People', 1833-57) interacted with and influenced Gogol's literary approach (in Dead Souls, 'The Portrait', Selected Passages from Correspondence with Friends). Tensions over the relative value of the image and the word in creating new forms of religious art and competition over assuming the role of leading prophet led to a crisis point in their relationship around 1848.