Stanislav Zhukovsky. Night landscape. Starry sky.

Stanislav Yulievich Zhukovsky. Night landscape. Starry sky. Apparently, it represents a philosophical panorama of reflections on God, with the contrast between the embracing eternity of the starry sky and the sweet vanity of life on the night of Easter. The poignancy of the drama is given by the absence of crosses on the temple, a deadly and tragic trace of the first years of Soviet power. The cold swell of the endless skies, the planetary curve of the earth are opposite to the truthful, situational warmth of the lights of human presence. Its earthly warmth near the temple, the solemn and cozy light inside it, the light of the windows nearby are a sign of human attachment to life and hope. After all, it’s Easter. Although the painting is signed in Cyrillic, it was probably completed in the early 1920s, before the artist left for Poland or based on the Vyatka memories already in exile. Author`s signature in the lower right corner. Oil on canvas, 71x96 cm. Provenas and assessment: early 21st century MacDougalls auction house.