Art critic Lifshits called for a temple to be built for the “Trinity”: new cracks are appearing

Back in July, a round table was held at the Institute of Art Studies dedicated to the “problems of conservation and display” of the “Trinity” icon, which it was decided to transfer to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. Leading experts on ancient Russian art voiced all the dangers of such a decision and proposed a number of compromise measures that could save the monument. By the end of August, their proposals were formalized into an open letter – the other day it was published with signatures. One of the signatories, a leading expert on ancient Russian art, Doctor of Art History Lev Lifshits, commented on the situation of MK.

To begin with, we will voice the proposals and conclusions made following the meeting of experts in the field of Russian medieval culture, art historians, restorers and museum staff. More than a hundred people gathered at the meeting. The letter was eventually signed, however, by only 19.

In their statement, the experts remind that the “Trinity” is not only the most important national shrine, but also a masterpiece of medieval painting and Russian art, and most importantly, the only icon that can be considered an authentic work by Andrei Rublev. In the Tretyakov Gallery, where it was located for almost a hundred years, it was available to everyone. “The return of an authentic, very dilapidated icon to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra upsets the long-established balance (including the established order of services in the Trinity Cathedral) and only seems to be an act of restoring historical justice. In reality, the spiritual and cultural mission of the image is sharply narrowed, access to it is limited, and its preservation is jeopardized. True respect for a shrine lies in providing it with reliable storage conditions, and giving people the opportunity to fully communicate with the monument, contributing in every possible way to revealing its essence,” the document says.

Considering all the risks, the best thing is to leave the Trinity in the Tretyakov Gallery, where there are opportunities to regularly observe and preserve the monument. As a compromise solution, a temporary or permanent exhibition of Rublev’s “Trinity” is proposed in a department of the Tretyakov Gallery – the current Church of St. Nicholas in Tolmachi, where there is a showcase specially made for this purpose. If this is impossible, then such conditions must be created in the Lavra.

For control, it is proposed to organize a Supervisory Council under the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and the Russian Academy of Sciences, which will include representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church (including residents of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra), professional restorers and art historians (primarily employees of the Tretyakov Gallery), specialists in exhibition equipment and organization of the museum climate. Without discussion by the Supervisory Board, no action should be taken regarding Trinity.

The conditions in Trinity Cathedral are not suitable for a fragile monument. There is no place to put a display case there. Therefore, experts proposed building a special temple-museum outside the Lavra, where it would be possible to move not only the “Trinity”, but the ancient iconostasis from the Trinity Cathedral. To stay in the temple-museum of the Rublev icon, you need a capsule showcase. There is another option: a special room can be equipped for the “Trinity” in the building of the Sacristy of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, next to the exhibitions of the Sergiev Posad Museum-Reserve.

This appeal was signed by 19 leading experts in ancient Russian art. Among them are Doctor of Philology, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Chairman of the Commission on the Culture of Ancient and Medieval Russia Alexey Gippius, Director of the St. Petersburg Institute of History, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Alexey Sirenov, artist-restorer of the highest category Yuri Bobrov, Doctor of Art History, Professor, Academician of the Russian Academy of Arts, Deputy Director of the Central Museum of Ancient Russian Culture and Art named after Andrei Rublev Gennady Popov. And, importantly, the head of the department of scientific research and restoration of parchment manuscripts of the Center named after academician I.E. Grabar Elina Dobrynina.

Among the experts who made such a proposal is Ekaterina Gladysheva, a senior researcher at the department of ancient Russian painting at the Tretyakov Gallery, but she is listed simply as an art historian, without indicating a position. But Mikhail Piotrovsky, who participated in the July meeting, is not there, although a letter was sent to him for signature.

So far there has been no reaction to the experts’ proposal. The Grabar Restoration Center, where Trinity is now located, is also silent, although an expanded restoration council was supposed to take place there back in September. Maybe he did, but his results were not made public.

However, information leaked to the press that restorers found another 80 new alarming changes – the crack between the boards has increased, the paint layer is falling off, and cracks are appearing. Taking into account those that were identified after the trip to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra a year ago, about 150 new areas are being identified that cause concern and require control or intervention by restorers.

We got through to one of the participants in the meeting, who also signed the mentioned statement on the measures necessary to preserve the “Trinity”. Lev Lifshits answered straight away.

“We did what we could – we gathered, spoke, wrote a letter, it was sent to everyone, we are waiting for a reaction,” said the doctor of art history at MK.

– Lev Isaakovich, what is happening at the Grabar Center? Why is everyone silent – restorers, the Ministry of Culture, and the Tretyakov Gallery?

“I think they are in the same stupid position as the rest of us.” I know that in the Grabar Center they walk around the hood, under which lies the “Trinity”. They walk, sniff the air, and look. They have a powerful climate control system. What else can they do? Our proposals hung in the air.