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The Trinity of
Andrei Rublev
Church of St. Sergius, Moscow,
15th century
Written by Paula
Howard, OSB
Mount St. Scholastica, October 2001
THE TRINITY by Andrei Rublev
represents the zenith of Russian iconography in the early 15th century. The
icon is based on the Biblical story of Abraham and Sarah when the were
visited by three angels, interpreted to represent the Three Persons
of the Trinity. The link to the New Testament is shown by the
chalice centered on the table and put in focus by the hands of the
angels.
The three
angels show aparadoxical equality and dissimilarity, so much so that
commentators disagree on which represents the Father, the Son, and
the Holy Spirit. Though the position of the bodies, the inclination
of the heads, the position of the hands, the color of the clothing,
the expressions on the faces all differ, there is a striking resemblance
in the facial features, the abundant hair, the identical staffs. Their
attitudes have bee described as serene and anxious, gentle and sorrowful,
detached and intimate, meditative and interacting.
Rublev
chose light and movement to depict the indivisible essence of the Trinity
without beginning
or end. The light background colors contrast with the brilliant intensity
of the robes of the three figures. The gold of the wings and
the brilliant blue between the angels tie them together as one being. The
movement begins with the angel a the right. With the inclination
of the head it moves to the center angel, and then on to the third
where it is carried down through the arm to the feet and back around
to complete an endless circle. The bodies of the outside angels
outline a large chalice which contains the table on which rests the
sacrificial meal.
The
stylized mountain, tree and temple in the background represent creation
or earthly existence,
the tree of the cross or the tree of life, and the church of the new
covenant, according to different interpretations of the identity of
the angels. The inverse perspective in the footrests places the
vanishing point in the sacred space in front of the icon inviting the
viewer to enter into the mystery of contemplation.
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