Painting by Nesterov “The Desert”


Mikhail Vasilievich Nesterov gave us a lot of mysterious works. The painting “The Hermit” became another masterpiece of this remarkable artist.

The first feeling that arises in the examination of this work is cold and empty. This picture can even be dangerous for an untrained viewer. A person with a low level of consciousness risks to connect to the lower astral plane. Before us is a bent old man. Who he turns out to be in many respects depends on the maturity of the person who is looking at this work. Who is he, this desolate? A real orthodox monk, who descended to us from the Caucasus mountains or a common sorcerer wandering around in search of a house?

The road to the Kingdom of Heaven is narrow and only in humble solitude one can reach the Gate of God. Here this topic is reflected very clearly. The monk stands on an eternal crossroads. In the depths of the picture he sees a modest fir-tree standing in front of the lake surface, on the other hand from it – red fruits of mountain ash. The path chosen by the old man leads him forward. His gaze is immersed in himself, with black robes on him, indicating his detachment to the blessings of this world for the sake of the Supreme Divine Values.

The staff is a symbol of wisdom, but also has a functional purpose, it hides the miraculous abilities of the hermit and here lies the restrained impure spirit. We see how a spiral is cut along the whole length of the staff, which is a symbol of the ascension in the Holy Spirit. In the other hand, the monk holds the rosary, in order to observe all the rules of the ascetic mode of action and on the clear canons of his spiritual tradition to read the sacred prayers or spells at the expense of wooden beads.

The painting “The Hermit” invites us to the pilgrimage, the two legs and the staff of the traveling monk – form the support of the Trinity: the Most High Power, Wisdom and Love.


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Painting by Nesterov “The Desert”