Scientists called on the head of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation to prevent the destruction of the “Trinity”

The Commission on the Culture of Ancient and Medieval Rus’ of the Scientific Council of the Russian Academy of Sciences “History of World Culture” appealed to the Minister of Culture Olga Lyubimova with a request to prevent the destruction of the Trinity icon by Andrei Rublev, which could occur due to its removal from the State Tretyakov Gallery. This is reported by “Interfax».

A letter to the Minister of Culture, signed by members of the council, including linguist, academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Alexei Gippius, specialists in ancient Russian painting Alexander Preobrazhensky, Irina Sterligova, Irina Shalina, was published on the website of the Association of Art Critics.

As the authors of the letter note, “the fate of the masterpiece of ancient Russian icon painting causes deep concern for everyone who appreciates Russian medieval culture or is professionally engaged in its study and popularization.”

It is noted that after the icon was exhibited in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra in July 2022, damage to the soil and painting was formed on more than 60 areas of its surface. And despite the work of the restorers, the condition of the icon remains unstable: “its destruction, caused by the transfer to the Lavra, is progressing, new cases of lagging behind the gesso and peeling of the paint layer have been identified, the crack along the right joint of the base boards has increased, the condition of a number of areas has been recognized as emergency.”

“These objective data, presented at a meeting of the extended Restoration Council of the Tretyakov Gallery on May 15, 2023, led the council members to a unanimous conclusion: in the near future, the Trinity cannot leave the walls of the museum, even for a short time,” the letter emphasizes.

At the same time, as noted in the letter, by June 4, the icon is planned to be exhibited in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, and, according to the authors of the appeal, “all these actions pose a serious danger to the Rublev icon, threatening the destruction of a great work of art and a national shrine.” The planned relocation of the monument, according to the authors of the letter, will put it at risk due to vibration during the process of moving, and due to repeated changes in the microclimate. In addition, in a short time it is impossible to create a showcase, capsule or other device that could ensure the stable state of the icon in the space of the existing temple.

“The long stay of the Trinity in the churches of Moscow and the Trinity-Sergius Lavra will not simplify, but will seriously impede access to the icon for believers and others. The inevitable acceleration of the destructive processes that have begun will soon entail the transfer of the icon to the restoration workshops. As a result, the icon will turn into a chronically ill monument, and for an indefinitely long time it will not be seen either in the temple or in the museum exhibition,” the letter says.

Members of the Commission on the Culture of Ancient and Medieval Rus’ declare that the fate of the Trinity cannot be decided in a short time, and “the current state of the monument makes it impossible and unacceptable to move it from the Tretyakov Gallery to the temple for permanent liturgical use.”

“Currently, the priority tasks are to stabilize the state of the icon, strengthen the damaged areas and further long-term monitoring of the work in museum conditions. These measures should be carried out by the curators and employees of the restoration workshop of the Tretyakov Gallery (…) The only space suitable for placing the Trinity icon by Andrei Rublev is the halls of the Tretyakov Gallery, which is confirmed by almost a century of practice, ”the authors of the appeal emphasize.

“We urge you to do everything possible to prevent the destruction of the greatest monument of Russian and world culture,” the authors of the letter addressed the minister.

On May 15, it became known that the image of the Trinity by Andrei Rublev would be returned to the Russian Orthodox Church. “In response to numerous requests from Orthodox believers, President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin has decided to return to the Russian Orthodox Church the miraculous icon of the Trinity, painted by St. Andrei Rublev,” the ROC website reported earlier.

Later, the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation announced that the icon would be exhibited in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior on June 4, then it would be sent for a planned restoration, and then to the Trinity Cathedral of the Holy Trinity St. Sergius Lavra.