ART HISTORY: EARLY CHRISTIAN FRESCOES AND FIGURATIVE ARTS                   By Maximillien de La Croix de Lafayette

 

IGNORANCE AND LACK OF INTEREST ON THE PART OF WORLD ART COMMUNITIES

Photo: 17^th century frescoes at Guyaneh Church

 

Armenian frescoes were never fully explored, studied and honestly appreciated by the world art communities. It is understandable. Armenia was a confined country behind the iron curtain. Few foreigners visited Armenia during the Soviet regime. And much more less during world war two, and  almost nobody thought of visiting Armenia during world war one. Under the Ottoman occupation, the situation was worse. Consequently, Armenian frescoes were put to sleep for centuries. What a pity!! The constant invasions of the lands of Armenia by foreign armies which lasted for centuries prevented art lovers and arts students from embarking on an artistic quest and artistic analytical study of any aspect of Armenian artifact inside Armenia. It is true, however that some co-existing arts as a part of the national economy and foreign trade remained active, because of the nature of the product and needs of occupying countries for  Armenian goods, products and ornamental objects to ornate and decorate their buildings, offices, houses and palaces.

THE HYSKOS SPIRIT AND PSYCHE PREVAIL

Photo: Miniatures from the 13^th century by an anonymous painter. Akhtala (details) Fresco from the 13^th century.

Certain arts remained alive, others prospered under foreign occupation such as pottery and ceramics in Kutahya. Maybe, we can add to a certain degree, the art of rug weaving. But, frescoes did not!. In fact, the art of frescoes died under foreign occupations, especially under the Seljukes and the mighty power of the Memlukes. Since the 17^th century to 1,989, few scholars and art connoisseurs heard about Armenian frescoes, yet, they are as old as the world we live in. No study or analytical expedition or a preservation effort on the part of any nation were initiated or carried on by any international wealthy societies of learning, humanities and the arts.