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Rood screen – the most valuable item 
Rood screen 
Doorways |
No reliable source informs us about the time when rood screen was painted and who did it. However, of all monuments that are valuable in Novi Sad Rusyn assemblage of Rusyn church community, rood screen is of the greatest value. Its quality shows that painter, who inclined to the models of influential Novi Sad painter Arsenije Teodorovic (greatly trusted by Rusyn church communities) respected and followed the most progressive elements of his teacher’s school. Vicinity and direct submission to master color set are so imposing that at times observer things that A. Teodorovic himself must had begun that work and then entrusted it to his trustworthy followers to complete it. This is even more so when we consider that Teodorovic’s works in church paintings are of imbalanced qualities in scope of artistic expression, so they greatly vary. Moreover, this impression is further enhanced due to the fact that rood screen was restored, repainted, thus we do not have it as original. However, the fact is that church cornerstone was laid in 1820. It was not until 15 years later that the church was finally completed. That piece of information rules out any consideration about Arsa’s possible complete engagement in the work on this rood screen in Rusyn church because he died in 1826.
Novi Sad Rusyn chuch community followed
tradition of Rusyn Krstur and Kucura communities, so it contracted a maker who was in the closest contact
with respected maestro. Analysis of color expression in each of Arsa’s famous disciples and imitators
leads us to conclusion that the maker of rood screen was most likely Jovan or Ivan Ivanic,
who was most likely a Croat from Petrovaradin. Ivanic probably created wall decoration and
rood screens in certain Serbian churches in Srem. Nevertheless, he was either so faithful to
Teodorovic (or dependent on him) that he turned for help to many Teodorovic’s disciples
while he was working on images, compositions, drawings, mobiliar, details of dead nature and color
relations. Besides rood screen, both thrones, choirs and pulpit in Novi Sad church are covered with
paintings. Unfortunately the rood screen remains poor in graven images and golden rims that decorate
Wien Greco Catholic church and churches in both Rusyn Krstur and Kucura.
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Sokl: 1. Saint Nicolas rescuses the sone of Anric 2. Mary meets Elizabeth (see photo), 3. Christ and Samaritan woman 4. Angel taking apostle Paul out of prison. Throne icons: 1. Saint Nicolas 2. Mary with Christ 3. Jesus Christ 4. Аpostles Peter and Paul. Doorways: Arch deacon Stephen on northern doorway, Good new on imperial doorway, archangel Michael on south doorway. Icons above doorways: Birth of Mary, above north doorway (see the photo); The Last Supper above imperial doorway; Mary’s Ascension above south doorway. II zone — holy day icons: 1. Birth of Christ, 2. Baptism, 3. Transfiguration, 4. Mary’s coronation, 5. Resurrection, 6. Ascension, 7. Coming of the Holy Spirit. III zone: In the center of the third zone there is a Crucifix below which there is a scene about Christ being taken down from the cross; on the side there are six icons featuring Passion (two are below, one above them, icons of Mary and John are next to Crucifix, while there is one prophet on each end respectively. Passion scenes on the left: 1. Judah’s betrayal, 2. Christ in Getsemene, 3.Christ in red robe before the high priest, 4. Christ before a soldier who points to Christ, 5. Mocking of Christ, 6. Soldiers take Christ to the judge (high priest). Passion scenes on the right side: 7. Flogging of Christ, 8. Christ before Pilate, 9. Thorny wreath, 10. Carrying the cross, 11. ? (Christ is on the right side, there is a figure behind him spreading a white cloth and a soldier standing on the left, 12. Carrying of the cross. | |
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King David with harp is featured on north choir. On the choir table is saint George on the left, and Basildon the Great on the right. On the lambrine of south choir is a seated figure of Saint John of Damascus, while on the choir table there is a figure of saint Gregory and saint martyr Demetrius. ТHRONES In the upper part of Mary’s throne there is a picture of a three quarters standing figure of Mary with Christ in her right hand. Christ caresses his beard. Above in the clouds is Sabaot. In the lower part is located an icon with standing figures of Joachim and Ana turned with their semiprofiles toward one another. There is a standing figure of Saint John Crysostom on the archpriest’s throne. PULPIT The pulpit is rectangular shaped base with smooth edges. Christ is featured in the center as being in the temple among the Pharisees. Positions, arrangements and contact among the figures is a typical expression of classicist understanding and painting style. On the sides are representations of evangelists – Matthew with an eagle is on the right, while Mark with lion is on the left. Teodorovic’s respect for baroque art and acceptance of progressive ideas as expressed in classicism were subtly and skillfully unified in his work. Yet in this case they are significantly lacking, but classicist influence seems to be much greater and direct. When J. Ivanic’s act on preserved parts of rood screen in Visnjicevo are analyzed, there is a particular expression and work on the image of Christ on the throne icon which corresponds with painting of Novi Sad rood screen. M. Lesek notes that Ivanic’s classicist understanding came into expression in composition of the set of passion representations. It is stressed that such an element is even more noticeable in “Christ in the temple” scene, which was a favorite abridgement of Arsa Teodorovic who applied different modes to it. As we consider possibility that rood screen was authored by none else than Ivanic, Arsa’s disciple, we have to consider a name of Lazar Milic as well. Milic is a little known painter from Slavonia whose works we did not get a chance to see. Yet, in literature we find that Milic respected Arsa Teodorovic and dedicated a portrait to him.
Rood screen was cleaned during a great restoration which took place in 1933.
There is a notice on choir balcony about restoration. On the table in the temple there is a cover, gift,
made of sheet metal featuring Christ and four evangelists. Above is the Crucifix, angels are on the side.
On the back of the cover is a big record mentioning the leading personalities in Greco Catholic area under
the supervision of Krizevacka eparhija, as well as the names of authors who made the item.
In spite of our best efforts to find more about smelter Peter King and biographer Dimitrije Jovanovic,
we did not succeed. This record about two authors with artistic craft remains the first source for any
further study of their works.
Olivera Milanovic-Jovic Translated by Aleksandar Veljic |