The traditions of carving figures from wood are rooted in the most ancient history of mankind. The first samples known to scientists belong to the times of Ancient Asia. Even then there were wooden sculptures in the form of figures of gods and rulers from different breeds of trees. They were carefully looked after, washed, rubbed, often with essential oils, in order to give the statues a fragrance.
Russian sculpture began its journey from the timesSlavs, paganism. Our lands were rich in forests, so the tree was the most accessible material for both construction and creativity. In those days, wooden idols were made in Russia, decorated with carvings of dwellings. Let these ornaments and sculptures be primitive, but this was the beginning of the art of woodcarving.
Over time, as in any kind of creative activity, the techniques of work, instruments, traditions changed. Accumulated experience.
After the baptism of Rus, the masters began to cut wooden sculptures the saints. The Orthodox Church saw this as a pagan tradition and was against such an art. Church officials believed that in the temples there should be only images. Many wooden sculptures were burnt.
Nevertheless, uniquesculptural images of St. George the Victorious, St. Nicholas, St. Paraskeva, St. Nil Stolobensky. If some of them are studied very well, then others deserve additional research.
Russian wooden creations were very different from Western Catholic creations, which were common everywhere for decorating palaces, noble dwellings. They were more reserved, calmer, kinder.
Remained a wooden sculpture still in the church. Only now the figurines replaced carved ornaments of iconostases, columns, walls.
Unfortunately, the history of wooden sculpture in Russia is a little-known area. The names of the authors of most of the works are unknown.
Particularly common was wooden sculpture in the regions of the Russian North. There, most men could cut wood. therefore pre-Petrine school of wooden sculpture the most famous is Verkhnekamskaya. Until now, a rich collection of sculptures is kept in the museum of Perm. It is known as the Permian Gods. She devoted a lot of research work.
On the question of how, where there was a school of wooden sculpture, historians answer, precisely on the basis of these descriptions.
In the Petrovsky period school of wooden sculpturegets a new development. There is a keen interest in wood carving, because a new capital is being built - Petersburg. Old buildings are being rebuilt under the influence of fashion. In imitation of the West, interiors are fashionable to decorate with sculptures and whole sculptural compositions, mirrors, trim frames with carved frames, walls with whole wooden paintings. Wooden carvings decorate many interior items. Statues meet the hosts and guests at the entrances, in parks, gardens.
Peter the First sends Russian masters abroad to study new techniques.
Great contribution to the development of wooden sculpturemade shipbuilders, again, not without the influence of Peter. According to the tsar's decree, all models of ships had to be executed in small size before starting construction. The king himself did it.
The nose of each ship in those times was traditionally decorated with a wooden statue.
Currently, wooden sculptures can besee everywhere - from dacha sites to public parks, city streets. The population's wide interest in this material accessible to Russia. Environmental friendliness, simplicity of processing attract not only eminent masters, craftsmen, but also those who love creativity of different layers of society and occupation.
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