Leonardo

"The Old Testament Trinity" of Andrey Rublyov: Geometry and Philosophy

Author(s): Alexander V. Voloshinov
Source: Leonardo, Vol. 32, No. 2 (1999), pp. 103-112
Published by: The MIT Press
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1576693 .
Accessed: 20/02/2014 17:42
Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at .
http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp
.
JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of
content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms
of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org.
.
The MIT Press and Leonardo are collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to
Leonardo.
http://www.jstor.org
This content downloaded from 194.95.59.195 on Thu, 20 Feb 2014 17:42:13 PM
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
Th e Ol d Te stame nt Tr i ni ty o f And r e y
Rubl y o v: Ge o me tr y and Ph i l o so ph y
Al e xand e r V Vo l o sh i no v
ANDREY RUBLYOV AND
HIS OLD TESTAMENT TRINITY
And r e y Rubl y o v (1360-1370-1430) i s th e
pr i d e
and
gl o r y
o f
Russi an cul tur e . Th e cr e ato r o f th e f amo us Ol d Te stame nt Tr i n-
i ty (Fi g. 1) was o ne o f th e th r e e mo st
si gni f i cant pe r so ns
o f
me d i e val Russi a; th e o th e r two
be i ng Se r gi us
o f Rad o ne zh
(1321-1391)
and
Dmi tr y
Do nsko y (1350-1389).
Th i s Russi an
tr i ni ty
l e f t such a
d e e p
tr ace o n th e nati o nal cul tur e th at al l
th r e e we r e cano ni ze d
by
th e Russi an Or th o d o x Ch ur ch . If
th e name s o f
Se r gi us
o f Rad o ne zh and
Dmi tr y Do nsko y sy m-
bo l i ze th e
spi r i tual
and
mi l i tar y
r e nai ssance o f Ol d Rus and
th e f i r st
ste ps
to war d s l i be r ati o n f r o m th e
Mo ngo l
and Tar tar
y o ke ,
th e name o f
Rubl y o v
i s co nne cte d no t
o nl y
wi th th e
f l o we r i ng
o f Russi an ar t but al so wi th th e r e vi val o n Russi an
gr o und
o f th e
By zanti ne
ar t th at h ad be e n r ui ne d i n th e
Osmanl i f i r e [1].
Al r e ad y
i n
Rubl y o v's
l i f e ti me h i s i co ns we r e wo r th th e i r
we i gh t
i n
go l d : th e y
we r e h unte d
by co l l e cto r s, wh o d i d no t
sto p
f ar f r o m vi o l e nce and f r aud .
Rubl y o v's auth o r i ty
was so
h i gh th at, wh e n th e cano ns o f
pai nti ng
th e
Tr i ni ty
we r e co n-
si d e r e d at th e
Sto gl avy
So bo r i n 1551 i n Mo sco w, th e ve r d i ct
was
une qui vo cal :
"To
pai nt
f r o m anci e nt
sampl e s
l i ke Gr e e k
ar ti sts
pai nte d
and l i ke
And r e y Rubl y o v pai nte d
. .." [2].
It i s
qui te
und e r stand abl e th at, si nce th e name o f
Rubl y o v
was so
po pul ar ,
th e r e
appe ar e d
a
h uge
numbe r o f i co ns as-
cr i be d to th e h and o f th e
gr e at
maste r . Th e wave o f uncr i ti cal
atti tud e to war d s th e
h e r i tage
o f
Rubl y o v
was f o l l o we d
by
a
h y pe r cr i ti cal
o ne .
No wad ay s o nl y
o ne i co n o f
Rubl y o v's
ci r cl e
(e xcl ud i ng
th e f amo us f r e sco s f r o m th e Cath e d r al o f th e
Do r mi ti o n o f th e
Vi r gi n)
i s an
und o ubte d l y ge nui ne
wo r k.
But wh at an i co n i t i s! It i s th e
maste r pi e ce
o f th e
gr e at
mas-
te r -th e i co n
Tr i ni ty
f r o m th e
Tr i ni ty
Cath e d r al i n th e
Tr i ni ty -
St.
Se r gi us Mo naste r y .
In
Se r gi e v
Po sad (th anks
to th e
gl o r y
o f
Se r gi us
o f Rad o ne zh and
And r e y Rubl y o v
th i s smal l to wn
no t f ar f r o m Mo sco w be came th e
capi tal
o f th e Russi an Or -
th o d o x Ch ur ch ). Sti l l th e e xact d ate o f cr e ati o n o f th e i co n i s
unkno wn-i t co ul d be e i th e r 1411 o r 1425-1427 [3].
If th e name o f
Rubl y o v pe r so ni f i e s
th e ar t o f Ol d Russi a,
Tr i ni ty sy mbo l i ze s
th e
h i gh e st pe ak
o f th at cul tur e .
Rubl y o v
and h i s
Tr i ni ty
be came
sy no ny ms
f o r th e Russi an
pe o pl e ,
and
f o r a
f o r e i gne r
th e wh o l e
h i sto r y
o f Russi an Ar t i s no t i nf r e -
que ntl y
o ve r sh ad o we d
by
th i s
gl ar i ng pe ak.
Wh at mar ve l s, star tl e s and al mo st sco r ch e s us i n
Rubl y o v's
wo r k i s no t at al l th e
subje ct,
o r th e nume r al "th r e e ," o r th e
cup
o n th e Co mmuni o n tabl e ... but th e f act th at i t sh o we d
us
tr ul y
th e Re ve l ati o n be h e l d
by
h i m.
Amo ng
th e r e stl e ss ci r -
cumstance s o f th e ti me , amo ng
th e d i sco r d s, th e l o cal war s,
th e
ge ne r al savage r y
and th e Tar tar i nte r ve nti o ns, amo ng
th i s
l ack o f pe ace th at h ad
d e pr ave d Rus, th e r e
o pe ne d
to th e
e y e
o f th e so ul th i s i nf i ni te , i mpe r -
tur babl e , i nd e str ucti bl e pe ace ,
"th e
l o f ty pe ace "
o f th e ce l e sti al
wo r l d . . . And th i s
i ne xpl i cabl e
wo r l d . . . th i s
i nco mpar abl e sky -
bl ue -no t th e
e ar th l y sky -bl ue ,
but th e tr ue
h e ave nl y azur e ,
th i s
unspe akabl e
d r e am o f Le r mo nto v,
wh o
l o nge d f o r i t, th i s i ne f f abl e
gr ace
o f th e mutual bo ws, th i s
pe ace f ul unwo r d l i ne ss, th i s i nf i -
ni te submi ssi ve ne ss to e ach
o th e r -we co nsi d e r th e ar ti sti c
co nte nts o f th e "Tr i ni ty " [4].
ABSTRACT
Th e ph i l o so ph i cal and th e o -
l o gi cal co nte nt o f a maste r pi e ce
o f Ol d Russi an i co n-pai nti ng-
And r e y Rubl y o v's Tr i ni ty -i s r e -
gar d e d i n th e l i gh t o f i ts ge o m-
e tr y . Th e aspe cts und e r stud y ar e
th e ge o me tr i cal pr o pe r ti e s o f th e
r e ctangl e o f th e Tr i ni ty (wh i ch ge n-
e r ate a se que nce o f ci r cumf e r -
e nce s r e l ate d by th e go l d e n pr o -
po r ti o n) and al so so me o f th e
pe cul i ar i ti e s i n th e co mpo si ti o n o f
th e i co n. Th e r o l e s o f th e ci r cl e ,
th e o ctago n and i nve r se pe r spe c-
ti ve i n th e Tr i ni ty ar e d i scusse d .
Th e auth o r e stabl i sh e s co r r e spo n-
d e nce be twe e n th e th e o l o gi cal
tr i ad Re ve l ati o n- Il l umi nati o n-Tr ans-
f o r mati o n, wh i ch make s up th e
f und ame ntal co nte nt o f th e Tr i ni ty ,
and th e mi r r o r and d y nami c sy m-
me tr i e s o f th e i co n.
THE CONSTRUCTION
OF THE RECTANGLE OF THE ICON
Le t us no te th at Ol d Russi an i co ns we r e
ne ce ssar i l y pai nte d
i n
an ar c. Th e l i ne ar
par ame te r s
o f th e
mar gi ns
o f th e ar c o f th e
Tr i ni ty (th e h e i gh t
o f th e
mar gi ns h 0
and i ts wi d th
1)
ar e
pr o -
po r ti o nal
to th e l i ne ar
par ame te r s
o f th e ar c h , I and to th e
l i ne ar
par ame te r s
o f th e i co n i tse l f
H,
L:
h
=
H
- L
(h =
H
h ,l -
1o
1 L 2 2
Th i s f act i s e vi d e nt f r o m th e
si mi l ar i ty
o f th e
tr i angl e s:
th e d i -
ago nal s
o f th e i co n ar e at th e same ti me th e
d i ago nal s
o f th e
ar c. As a r e sul t, i t make s no d i f f e r e nce wh e th e r th e
pr o po r -
ti o ns o f th e
co mpo si ti o n
o f th e i co n ar e cal cul ate d o n th e i n-
ne r o utl i ne -th e o utl i ne o f th e ar c-o r o n th e o ute r co nto ur
o f th e wh o l e i co n.
Acco r d i ng
to th e
l o gi c
o f a
pi cto r i al
co m-
po si ti o n,
th e
pr o po r ti o ns
o f th e
co mpo si ti o n
sh o ul d be co r r e -
l ate d wi th i ts i nne r co nto ur . But f r o m th e
po i nt
o f vi e w o f
pe r -
ce i vi ng
th e i co n as a
wh o l e ,
th e
par ame te r s
o f th e
co mpo si ti o n
sh o ul d co r r e l ate wi th th e o ute r co nto ur o f th e
i co n.
By
ke e pi ng
th e
pr o po r ti o n
th e same , Rubl y o v
so l ve s th i s
pr o bl e m [5].
But h o w was th e
r e ctangl e
i tse l f co nstr ucte d ? Si nce
H h 5
-..-. 1.25
=
-,
L I 4
th e answe r se e ms e vi d e nt: th e
pr o po r ti o ns
o f th e
r e ctangl e
o f
th e
Tr i ni ty
ar e d e te r mi ne d
by
th e r ati o o f
i nte ge r s
5:4. Th e
co nstr ucti o n o f th e
r e ctangl e
wi th th e
h e l p
o f a ci r cumf e r -
e nce i nscr i be d i n th e f o ur
squar e s
i s e vi d e nt f r o m
Fi g. 2.
Al e xand e r V. Vo l o sh i no v (math e mati ci an, ph i l o so ph e r ), Sar ato v State Te ch ni cal Uni ve r -
si ty (SSTU), 6 De l o vay a St., Apt. 14, Sar ato v 410040, Russi a. E-mai l :
<al vo l @sstu.sar ato v.su>.
LEONARDO, Vo l . 32, No . 2, pp. 103-112, 1999 103 ? 1999 ISAST
This content downloaded from 194.95.59.195 on Thu, 20 Feb 2014 17:42:13 PM
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
Fi g.
1.
And r e y Rubl y o v,
Th e Ol d Te stame nt
Tr i ni ty ,
te mpe r a o n
wo o d , 142 x 114
cm, c.1420.
Th e i co n f r o m th e
Tr i ni ty
Cath e d r al i n th e
Tr i ni ty -St.
Se r gi us Mo naste r y i n
Se r gi e v
Po sad .
Th e
i nte ge r
r ati o s o f th e si d e s ar e
ch ar acte r i sti c o f Russi an
i co n-pai nti ng
i n
ge ne r al .
As th e we l l -kno wn
pr o po r ti o n
th e o r i st A. Ti tz [6] e stabl i sh e d , th e i nte -
ge r
r ati o s o f H:L d o mi nate i n Russi an
i co ns o f th e f o ur te e nth and f i f te e nth
ce ntur i e s, name l y :
4:3 (-30%); 5:4
(-30%); 3:2, 6:5, 7:5 (-12% e ach ). Onl y
appr o xi mate l y 4% o f th e se i co ns ar e
mad e
up by no n-i nte ge r
r ati o s o f th e i r
l i ne ar
par ame te r s.
Fr o m anci e nt ti me s, i nte ge r pr o po r -
ti o ns h ave
tr ad i ti o nal l y pl ay e d
a
l e ad i ng
r o l e i n
spati al ar ts, e spe ci al l y
i n ar ch i te c-
tur e , wh i ch h as be e n co nd i ti o ne d i n i ts
tur n
by
th e
e xce pti o nal
r o l e o f th e i nte -
ge r pr o po r ti o ns
o f co nso nance s i n musi c
d i sco ve r e d
by Py th ago r as [7]. Acco r d i ng
to Vi tr uvi us, th e r ati o o f an o ctave (2:1)
[8] i s be auti f ul f o r a
te mpl e ,
and r e l a-
ti o ns o f a f i f th (3:2) and a
majo r
si xth
(5:3) ar e sui tabl e f o r an atr i um [9].
Th e anci e nt
th e o r y
th at
pr o po r ti o ns
th at ar e
pl e asant
to th e e ar sh o ul d be
al so
pl e asant
to th e
e y e
was
acce pte d
and
d e ve l o pe d
i n th e ti me o f th e Re nai s-
sance . Le o n Batti sta Al be r ti wr o te :
"Th e r e ar e numbe r s, wi th th e
h e l p
o f
wh i ch th e
h ar mo ny
o f so und s f asci nate s
th e e ar , th e same numbe r s f i l l th e
e y e s
and so ul wi th wo nd e r f ul
d e l i gh t.
We
must use th e
pr o po r ti o ns,
take n f r o m
musi ci ans, wh o ar e
gr e at
maste r s i n th at
ki nd o f numbe r s" [10].
Wh e n
Rubl y o v
was
ch o o si ng
th e i nte r -
val o f
majo r
th i r d (5:4) as th e
pr o po r ti o n
o f th e
r e ctangl e
o f th e
Tr i ni ty ,
h e co ul d
no t h ave kno wn th i s state me nt o f h i s
y o unge r co nte mpo r ar y ,
f o r Al be r ti 's tr e a-
ti se Te n Bo o ks o n Ar ch i te ctur e was
pub-
l i sh e d i n Fl o r e nce i n 1485-13
y e ar s
af -
te r
Rubl y o v's
d e ath . But
Rubl y o v
was
sur e to h ave kno wn
th r o ugh By zanti ne
ar ch i te cts and
i co n-pai nte r s
th e i d e a o f
appl y i ng
musi cal
pr o po r ti o ns
i n
spati al
ar ts.
Th e same anci e nt maste r s we r e to o
so ph i sti cate d
i n th e ar ts and i n math -
e mati cs to co nf i ne th e mse l ve s
me r e l y
to
th e
i nte ge r pr o po r ti o ns.
On th e
wo o d e n
pane l
f r o m He si r e 's
se pul ch e r
i n
Saqqar ah (twe nty -e i gh th ce ntur y
B.C.),
th e ar ch i te ct He si r e i s sh o wn wi th
two
me asur i ng
cane s i n h i s h and s, th e
l e ngth s
o f wh i ch ar e r e l ate d as th e si d e
(1)
and th e
d i ago nal (5 )
o f th e
d o ubl e
squar e X5 :1. Th e r e i s
o nl y
o ne
ste p
f r o m th e
d i ago nal
o f th e d o ubl e
squar e
to th e co e f f i ci e nt o f th e
go l d e n
se cti o n 0 =
(
5
+
1)/2
= 1.618033989
... o r i ts i nve r si o n 4 =
1/D
=
( 5
-
1)/
2 = 0.618033989 ... Th at
ve r y
ste p
was
mad e
by
Eucl i d i n h i s El e me nts [ 11 ].
Maste r pi e ce s
o f Anci e nt Gr e e ce and
Ro me and Ol d Russi an ar t
te sti f y
to th e
f act th at o l d maste r s kne w th e
pr o po r -
ti o ns base d o n i r r ati o nal r e l ati o ns such
as
( ~2:1, F5J:1
and , f i nal l y , ( 5
+
1)/
2:1. Th e same Vi tr uvi us r e co mme nd s
th e r e l ati o n
42:1
[12] as we l l as th e
musi cal
i nte ge r pr o po r ti o ns
o f atr i a.
Ol d Russi an maste r s, wh o we r e ac-
quai nte d
wi th th e wi sd o m o f
Anti qui ty
th r o ugh By zanti um,
we r e sur e to kno w
th e se cr e ts o f th e
go l d e n pr o po r ti o n.
Such
be i ng
th e case , wh i l e
maki ng up
th e bo ar d s f o r h i s
Tr i ni ty , Rubl y o v
co ul d
h ave mar ke d no t th e "musi cal " r e ct-
angl e
5:4 but th e
"go l d e n" r e ctangl e
./j:1,
th e
d i ago nal
o f wh i ch i s th e co -
e f f i ci e nt o f th e
go l d e n
se cti o n (. Th e
ge o me tr y
o f
co nstr ucti ng
th at r e ct-
angl e ,
base d o n th e mo d i f i cati o n o f Eu-
cl i d e an me th o d o f two
squar e s,
i s e vi -
d e nt f r o m
Fi g.
3.
Th e
r e ctangl e s
5:4 and -vI:I ar e al -
mo st
i nd i sti ngui sh abl e
f r o m e ach o th e r
to th e
e y e (Fi g. 4):
th e r e l ati ve d i f f e r -
e nce o f th e i r
d i ago nal s
A =
1.05%. But
be h i nd th e o ute r
e qual i ty
o f th e two
r e ctangl e s
th e r e ar e two
co ntr ar y
ph i -
l o so ph i e s
o f ar t: th e
ph i l o so ph y
o f th e
mo d ul us-th e ar i th me ti cal ad d i ti o n o f
th e
mul ti pl e
to th e mo d ul us
magni -
tud e s, l e ad i ng
to "musi cal "
pr o po r -
ti o ns, and th e
ph i l o so ph y
o f th e
co e f f i -
ci e nt-th e
ge o me tr i cal mul ti pl i cati o n
by
th e co e f f i ci e nt o f th e i ncr e ase , l e ad -
i ng
to th e i r r ati o nal
pr o po r ti o ns and , i n
par ti cul ar ,
to th e
go l d e n
o ne s.
Wh at
ph i l o so ph y
d i d
Rubl y o v pr o -
f e ss? We d o no t kno w th e answe r . As f o r
th e
pr o po r ti o ns
o f th e
r e ctangl e
o f th e
i co n, th e y
ar e
just
be twe e n 5:4 and
4- :1, as i f
Rubl y o v
we r e
l augh i ng
at f u-
tur e
i nve sti gato r s.
As i t be f i ts a tr ue mas-
te r pi e ce
o f ar t, th e
r e ctangl e
o f th e Tr i n-
i ty ke e ps
th e se cr e t o f i ts co nstr ucti o n.
104 Vo l o sh i no v, Th e Ol d Te stame nt Tr i ni ty
This content downloaded from 194.95.59.195 on Thu, 20 Feb 2014 17:42:13 PM
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
5 141
4 4 N
1
Fi g. 2. Th e r ati o nal "musi cal " me th o d o f
co nstr ucti ng
th e r e ct-
angl e
o f th e i co n wi th th e r ati o 5:4 =
1.25. Th e
d i ago nal
o f th e
r e ctangl e
i s
e qual
to 41 /4
=
1.601.
THE "GOLDEN"
CHARAC TERISTICS OF THE
RECTANGLE a/:1.
No matte r h o w th e
r e ctangl e
o f th e Tr i n-
i ty
was co nstr ucte d ,
i t
po sse sse s
th e
uni que "go l d e n"
ch ar acte r i sti cs o f th e
r e ctangl e
XF :1 th at h ave no t be e n e x-
pl o r e d
unti l no w.
In th e
r e ctangl e
a/ :1 l e t us e xami ne
th e succe ssi o n o f th e i nscr i be d and ci r -
cumscr i be d ci r cumf e r e nce s and r e ct-
angl e s (Fi g. 5). As i t i s
e asy
to sh o w f r o m
th e
si mi l ar i ty
o f
tr i angl e s OAB, OCD,
OEF, ...,
th e
f o l l o wi ng e qual i ti e s
ar e
just i i
-1,272
f o r th e r ad i i o f th e ci r cumf e r e nce s
r k: 25
.-=1,25
1
k
4
r k
=-
,r k-r k-
=-
(k
=
1,2,3,...).
Th e n, th e r ad i i o f th e ci r cumf e r e nce s
r k
and th e l i ne ar
par ame te r s
o f th e r e ct-
angl e s h k
and
1k
ar e r e l ate d i n
go l d e n
pr o po r ti o n
-
h k
-=
= D
(k
= 1,2,3, ...)
r k+l h k+l i k+l
Fi nal l y ,
i t i s
e asy
to
pr o ve
th at
o nl y
th e
r e ctangl e
:1
po sse sse s
th e se ch ar ac-
te r i sti cs.
So , th e
r e ctangl e
o f th e
Tr i ni ty
natu-
r al l y
r ai se s a succe ssi o n o f ci r cumf e r -
e nce s, r e l ate d to e ach o th e r
by
th e
go l d e n pr o po r ti o n. Co nse que ntl y ,
f o r
any po i nt
i nsi d e th e ci r cl e
[r k, r k
+ ],
th e r e i s a
co r r e spo nd i ng po i nt
i nsi d e
Fi g.
3. Th e i r r ati o nal
"go l d e n" me th o d o f
co nstr ucti ng
th e r e ct-
angl e
o f th e i co n wi th th e r ati o
Af
:1 1.272. Th e
d i ago nal
o f
th e
r e ctangl e
i s
e qual
to -D 1.618.
18// Fi g.
4.
Co mpar i so n
o f th e
r e ctangl e s
601
/(
:1
-
1.272 (up-
pe r f i gur e )
and 5:4 =
1.25
(l o we r f i gur e ).
Th e
d i ago nal
o f th e
r e ctangl e
5:4 wi th
th e r e l ati ve e r r o r A =
1.05% i s
e qual
to th e
co e f f i ci e nt o f th e
go l d e n
se cti o n (.
Vo l o sh i no v, Th e Ol d Te stame nt
Tr i ni ty 105
This content downloaded from 194.95.59.195 on Thu, 20 Feb 2014 17:42:13 PM
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
pr e se nts
th e i d e a o f Go d 's
tr i pl i ci ty
as
th r e e ci r cl e s:
A
G
th e ci r cl e o n th e
o ppo si te
e nd o f th e d i -
ame te r th at i s i n
go l d e n pr o po r ti o n
wi th
th e
gi ve n po i nt.
As a r e sul t, th e r e i s an
unl i mi te d scal e o f
go l d e n pr o po r ti o ns
r e l ati ve to th e ce nte r o f th e
co mpo si ti o n
o f th e
Tr i ni ty -th e
po i nt
o f i nte r se cti o n
o f th e
d i ago nal s
o f th e
r e ctangl e .
Th e f i r st th r e e ci r cumf e r e nce s, r , r 2,
r 3, pl ay
th e mai n r o l e i n th e
co mpo si ti o n
o f th e
Tr i ni ty :
th e smal l e st o f th e m l i mi ts
th e ci r cl e
r 3,
wh i l e th e o th e r two l i mi t
th e
co r r e spo nd i ng r i ngs.
Le t us no te
(Fi g. 5) th at
AC=OE= 1O2
2
and
CE=I
3
2
i .e . th e r ad i us o f th e i nne r ci r cl e (OE)
and th e wi d th o f th e o ute r
r i ng (AC) co -
i nci d e , and th e wi d th o f th e mi d d l e
r i ng
(CE) i s i n
go l d e n pr o po r ti o n
wi th th e m.
Re gar d i ng
th e i ncl i ne o f th e
d i ago -
nal s, si nce
tg
a
=
tg
ZBOA
=
aV (Fi g.
5), th e n a = 51?50'. But th at i s
just
th e
angl e
o f th e i ncl i ne o f th e
apo th e m
o f
Ch e o ps' Py r ami d !
So AOGH, mad e
up
by
th e
d i ago nal s
o f th e
r e ctangl e
V :1
(Fi g. 5), i s si mi l ar to th e f r o ntal o utl i ne
o f
Ch e o ps' Py r ami d .
Abund ant
e mpi r i cal
mate r i al h as
be e n co l l e cte d
te sti f y i ng
to th e f act th at
th i s
r e ctangl e -th e r e ctangl e
o f th e
Tr i ni ty -i s
th e mo st co mmo n
amo ng
th e
f o r mats o f
pi ctur e s
i n d i f f e r e nt
e po ch s
and
ge nr e s [13]. On th e o th e r h and , G.
Fe ch ne r d e d uce d i n h i s
e xpe r i me nts
th at i ni ti ate d
e mpi r i cal
ae sth e ti cs [14]
Fi g. 5. Th e
"go l d e n"
ch ar acte r i sti cs o f th e
r e ctangl e 4:1.
h
th at th e f o r mat o f th e go l d e n pr o po r -
ti o n 1.618 o f
r e ctangl e s
i s
ae sth e ti cal l y
pr e f e r abl e .
V. Pe tr o v i n h i s wo r k [15]
gi ve s
a r ath e r
co nvi nci ng
th e o r e ti cal -i n-
f o r mati o nal
e xpl anati o n
o f G. Fe ch ne r 's
r e sul ts; but sti l l th e
que sti o n
as to
wh y
th e f o r mat ~1.3 i s
ae sth e ti cal l y pr e f e r -
abl e r e mai ns
o pe n. Pe r h aps
i t i s th e sh i f t
o f th e
go l d e n pr o po r ti o n
f r o m th e o ute r
co nto ur o f th e
e mpty r e ctangl e
to th e
i nne r str uctur e
co ntai ni ng
th e co nte nt
o f th e
pi ctur e
th at can be co nsi d e r e d
o ne o f th e r e aso ns
wh y
th e
r e ctangl e
-4 :1 i s
ae sth e ti cal l y pr e f e r abl e .
No w l e t us
pass
o n f r o m th e se
ge ne r al
o bse r vati o ns to th e
ge o me tr i cal
and
ph i l o so ph i cal anal y si s
o f
Rubl y o v's
Tr i n-
i ty
i tse l f .
THEME 1. THE THREE
CIRCLES OF THE TRINITY
Fr o m ti me i mme mo r i al th e ci r cl e h as
be e n co nsi d e r e d th e mo st
pe r f e ct
sh ape ,
si nce o f al l two -d i me nsi o nal
f i g-
ur e s
o nl y
a ci r cl e co i nci d e s wi th i tse l f at
any
tur n r o und i ts ce nte r , po sse ssi ng
th e
h i gh e st d e gr e e
o f ce ntr al
sy mme tr y .
Be cause o f th i s, f r o m anci e nt ti me s
d i f f e r e nt cul tur e s h ave use d th e ci r cl e to
sy mbo l i ze
th e
sky ,
th e
path
o f th e sun,
th e
sph e r e
o f th e
h e ave ns-e ve r y th i ng
l o f ty , pe r f e ct,
e te r nal and cl o se to Go d .
Th e ae sth e ti cs o f th e ci r cl e , wi th i ts
h i gh e st d e gr e e
o f
pe r f e cti o n,
l e d
Py th ago r as
to th e
h y po th e si s
o f a ci r cu-
l ar
tr aje cto r y
o f
pl ane tar y
o r bi ts. No
wo nd e r , th e n, th at i n th e l ast
(th i r ty -
th i r d ) so ng
o f th e l ast (th i r d ) par t
o f h i s
Di vi ne Co me d y , as th e l ast tr uth , Dante
Ne l l a
pr o f o nd a
e ch i ar a sussi ste nza
De l l 'al to l ume
par ve mi
tr e
gi r i
Di tr e co l o r i e d 'una co nti e nza
-Par ad i se , XXXIII, 115
It i s no wo nd e r , th e n, th at
many
ar t
cr i ti cs-M.
Al pato v,
V. Lazar e v, L.
Ouspe nsky ,
N. Tar abuki n, N. De mi na
and o th e r s-tr i e d to f i nd ci r cl e s i n th e
co mpo si ti o n
o f th e
Tr i ni ty [16].
It i s h ar d to kno w wh e th e r
Rubl y o v
h ad r e ad Dante 's
gr e ate st
bo o k. Mo st
pr o babl y
h e d i d no t-th e d i stance be -
twe e n me d i e val Russi a and th e Ital i an
pr o to -Re nai ssance
was to o
gr e at
i n th o se
d ay s.
But th e
go l d e n pr o pe r ty
o f th e
r e ctangl e j
:1
e asi l y h e l ps
us to f i nd
Dante 's th r e e ci r cl e s i n th e
co mpo si ti o n
o f th e
Tr i ni ty .
It i s
asto ni sh i ng
h o w o r -
gani cal l y
th e
co mpo si ti o n
o f th e
Tr i ni ty
i s i nscr i be d i nto th e se th r e e ci r cl e s: th e
ci r cl e o f th e th r e e f ace s, th e ci r cl e o f th e
ar ms and
wi ngs
o f th e
ange l s
o n th e
si d e s, th e ci r cl e o f th e ar ms o f th e
ange l
i n th e mi d d l e and th e
cup (Fi g. 6).
Th e
majo r i ty
o f ar t cr i ti cs, no ti ng
th e
ci r cul ar
co mpo si ti o n
o f th e
Tr i ni ty ,
d i d
no t take th e tr o ubl e o f
maki ng
co ncr e te
d r awi ngs.
And e ve n i f
th e y po i nte d
to
th e ci r cl e , as Ti tz d o e s [17], i t was a
ci r cl e wi th a l o we r e d ce nte r , wh i ch was
d i ctate d
by
th e
h y po th e si s
o f th e "musi -
cal " me th o d o f
co nstr ucti ng
th e r e ct-
angl e
5:4 (se e Fi g. 2), as
o ppo se d
to th e
go l d e n r e ctangl e ,
wh i ch
y i e l d s
ci r cl e s
ar o und th e actual ce nte r o f th e i co n.
Th e se ci r cl e s f o r m co nce ntr i c
r i ngs
co nne cti ng
th e f ace o f th e l e f t
ange l
wi th th e h and o f th e
r i gh t o ne , th e f ace
o f th e
ange l
i n th e mi d d l e wi th th e
cup,
e tc., as
po i nte d
o ut i n
Fi g.
6.
Rubl y o v
puts
th e two ce ntr al e l e me nts co n-
ne cte d
by
th e
go l d e n pr o po r ti o n-th e
f ace o f th e
ange l
i n th e mi d d l e and th e
cup-o n
th e same axi s and , at th e same
ti me , sl i gh tl y
sh i f ts th e i r axi s f r o m th e
ve r ti cal . So th e r e
appe ar s
an e xtr ao r d i -
nar y e xpr e ssi o n
and
magne ti c uni ty
i n
pe r ce i vi ng
th e two mo st
i mpo r tant
e l e -
me nts o f th e i co n.
As to th e
ph i l o so ph i cal
co nte nt o f th e
ge o me tr y
o f th e ci r cl e , I sh o ul d
say
th at
i t
co r r e spo nd s
i n th e be st
po ssi bl e way
to
th e e ccl e si asti cal
d o gmata
o f
Tr i uni ty ,
Ho mo o usi o s, No n-Amal gamati o n,
and
Inse par abi l i ty :
th e
Tr i uni ty
o f th e
ange l s
i n th e o ne ci r cl e , and th e Ho mo o usi o s
(o r co nsubstanti al i ty )o f
th e
al go r i th m
o f
co nstr ucti ng
th e ci r cl e , wh i ch i s uni f o r m
f o r al l
po i nts
o f th e ci r cl e . Th e No n-
Amal gamati o n
i s th e
qual i tati ve
d i sti nc-
ti o n o f
e ve r y
ne w
po i nt
o f th e ci r cl e .
106 Vo l o sh i no v, Th e Ol d Te stame nt
Tr i ni ty
B
This content downloaded from 194.95.59.195 on Thu, 20 Feb 2014 17:42:13 PM
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
Th e
Inse par abi l i ty
i s th e unl i mi te d se l f -
si mi l ar i ty
o f ci r cul ar mo ti o n. In th e i co n
th e mi d d l e
ange l , al th o ugh h i gh e r
th an
th e o th e r s, i s
e qual
to th e m i n th e ci r cl e ;
h e ne i th e r
suppr e sse s
no r d o mi nate s
th e o th e r s. Th us th e ci r cul ar
co mpo si -
ti o n o f th e
Tr i ni ty
i s much r i ch e r
ph i l o -
so ph i cal l y
and
ge o me tr i cal l y
th an
any
o f
th e kno wn l i ne ar
co mpo si ti o ns (f o r e x-
ampl e ,
th e Psco vi an i co n o f th e si x-
te e nth
ce ntur y :
Ol d Te stame nt
Tr i ni ty ).
Th e
que sti o n
"Wh o i s wh o i n th e Tr i n-
i ty ?" spar ke d many
a h e ate d
ar gume nt;
Czar Ivan IV th e Te r r i bl e
po se d
th e
que s-
ti o n to th e
Sto gl avy
So bo r i n 1551. Th e
answe r o f th e So bo r was: "Ch r i st i s th e
ange l
i n th e mi d d l e , th e o ne
h i gh e r
th an
th e o th e r s." Th us, i n th e Or th o d o x
ch ur ch , Go d th e So n was
put h i gh e r
th an
Go d th e Fath e r , wh i l e i n th e Cath o l i c
ch ur ch
th e y
ar e
e qual .
As e vi nce d
by
th e
ge o me tr y
o f th e
Tr i ni ty , Rubl y o v
canno t
be
r e pr o ach e d
f o r
i nspi r i ng
th e So bo r
wi th th e i r d e ci si o n. Fo r
Rubl y o v
al l th e
th r e e
h y po stase s
ar e
e qual
i n th e ci r cl e .
Fo ur h und r e d
y e ar s
l ate r th e So bo r 's
d e ci si o n was
suppo r te d by d i sti ngui sh e d
ar t cr i ti cs M.
Al pato v
and V. Lazar e v
[18], wh i l e
th e o l o gi ans
N. Go l ubtso v
and A. Ve l e te v [19] we r e o f ano th e r
o pi ni o n.
Th e l atte r no ti ce d a
"Maje sti c
e l e me nt" i n th e
ange l
i n th e mi d d l e th at
co r r e spo nd s
mo r e to th e f i r st
h y po stasi s
o f th e
Tr i ni ty ,
i .e . Go d th e Fath e r . Ac-
co r d i ng
to A. Ve l e te v, th e
ange l
i n th e
mi d d l e -Go d th e Fath e r -i s
i ncl i ni ng
th e So n (th e l e f t
Ange l )
to war d se l f -sac-
r i f i ce f o r th e
r e d e mpti o n
o f si n, as e vi -
d e nce d
by
th e
e xpr e ssi ve
be nt o f Hi s
h e ad to war d s th e So n. Th e
r i gh t ange l -
th e
Ho l y
Gh o st-i s be nt o ve r th e Co m-
muni o n tabl e mo r e th an th e o th e r s and
i s mo st
so r r o wf ul l y pe nsi ve .
But th e wi se st
o pi ni o n
i n th i s matte r
se e ms to be th at o f G. Po me r antz, a
mo d e r n
ph i l o so ph e r
and
cul tur o l o gi st:
Th e man wh o
r e al l y
f e e l s
Rubl y o v's
Tr i ni ty
i s sur e to f e e l th at th e
que sti o n
"Wh o i s wh o ?" i s i d l e and
d i gr e ssi ng
f r o m th e mai n
po i nt,
th at No n-Amal -
gamati o n
and
Inse par abi l i ty o f th e an-
ge l s
i s th e
ve r y e sse nce o f th e matte r ;
and i f we
tr y
to se e a d i f f e r e nce be -
twe e n th e m we ar e sur e to tur n th e
Tr i ni ty
i nto "th r e e
go ats,"
as Mai ste r
Ekke h ar d sai d [20].
THEME 2. THE THREE
OCTAGONS OF THE TRINITY
Th e th e me o f th e
o ctago ns
i s th e
l o gi cal
co nti nuati o n o f th e th e me o f th e ci r cl e .
Th e numbe r 8 was asso ci ate d wi th e te r -
nal l i f e i n th e me d i e val Ch r i sti an cul -
Fi g.
6. Th e me 1. Th r e e
"go l d e n
ci r cl e s" o f th e
Tr i ni ty . Ce ntr al l y sy mme tr i cal go l d e n pr o -
po r ti o ns
o f th e mo st
i mpo r tant sy mbo l i c
e l e me nts o f th e
Tr i ni ty .
tur e . We can al so r e me mbe r Le o nar d o
d a Vi nci 's
pl an
o f a cath e d r al [21], th e
f o und ati o n o f wh i ch i s a r e cti l i ne ar o cta-
go n
and a "no t musi cal " scal e o f
pr o po r -
ti o n
'2:1.
Just l i ke th e ci r cl e , th e
o ctago n
i n th e
co mpo si ti o n
o f th e
Tr i ni ty
was no ti ce d
by
M. Sve ch e v [22], D.
Li kh ach y o v [23] and
o th e r s, but no o ne h ad
po i nte d
o ut i ts
co ncr e te
po si ti o n
i n th e i co n. If we co n-
str uct a ci r cumf e r e nce , to uch i ng
no t th e
ve r ti cal but th e h o r i zo ntal si d e s o f th e
ar c o f th e i co n
(Fi g. 7), and al so d o th e
co nstr ucti o ns sh o wn i n
Fi g. 7, we can
e asi l y
f i nd no t o ne , but th r e e
o ctago ns.
Th e f i r st (th e l ar ge st)
o f th e m e m-
br ace s al l th e e l e me nts o f th e
co mpo si -
ti o n wi th math e mati cal
pr e ci si o n.
As i l -
l ustr ate d i n
Fi g. 7, th e f o ur i ncl i ne d
si d e s o f th e
o ctago n
mi r r o r th e
sl o pe s
o f
th e th r o ne s and
pe d e stal s
o f th e
ange l s,
th e axo no me tr i cal axi s o f th e l e f t bui l d -
i ng (e i th e r Abr ah am's h o use o r a
te mpl e )
and e ve n th e
tange nt
to th e
r i gh t
mo untai n. Th e se co nd
o ctago n,
wi th th e same math e mati cal
pr e ci si o n,
i nvo l ve s th e mai n e l e me nts o f th e co m-
po si ti o n-th e ange l s
and th e sacr i f i ci al
cup.
And
f i nal l y
th e th i r d
o ctago n-th e
smal l e st-i ncl ud e s th e f o cal
po i nt
o f th e
co mpo si ti o n-th e cup
and th e ar ms
str e tch e d o ut to war d s i t.
Be si d e s i ts
sy mbo l i c
l i nk to e te r nal
l i f e , th e mai n
o ctago n
al so h as a ce r tai n
co mpo si ti o nal me ani ng. Oppo se d
to th e
smo o th , ge ntl e
ar cs o f th e ci r cul ar co m-
po si ti o n (se e Fi g. 6), wh i ch wo ul d h ave
be e n to o
amo r ph o us, Rubl y o v
i nste ad
o utl i ne s wi th th e
sh ar p,
h ar d bo r d e r s o f
th e
o ctago n.
Th us th e ce l e sti al ci r cl e o f
ange l s
i s co nf i ne d wi th i n th e
o ctago nal
f r ame o f
e ar th l y
e l e me nts: th e tr e e , th e
mo untai n, th e
te mpl e
and th e
pe d e stal s,
wh i ch
sy mbo l i ze co r r e spo nd i ngl y
th e
Vo l o sh i no v, 7h e Ol d Te stame nt Tr i ni ty 107
This content downloaded from 194.95.59.195 on Thu, 20 Feb 2014 17:42:13 PM
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
wo r l d o f ani mate natur e , th e wo r l d o f
i nani mate natur e , th e wo r l d o f e te r nal
cul tur e and th e wo r l d o f
e ve r y d ay
l i f e .
THEME 3. THE INVERSE
PERSPECTIVE OF THE TRINITY
If th e r e i s math e mati cal str i ctne ss i n ar -
r angi ng
e l e me nts i n th e
pl ane
o f an
i co n, th e n th e r e i s abso l ute ch ao s i n
co nve y i ng space
wi th i n th e
pl ane .
Th i s
f act h as be e n no ti ce d no t
o nl y
i n
Rubl y o v's wo r ks, but i n al l Russi an i co n-
pai nti ng;
th at i s
wh y
Russi an
i co n-pai nt-
e r s h ave
l o ng
be e n accuse d o f
"nai ve te ," "i nco r r e ctne ss" and e ve n
"pr i mi ti ve ne ss" i n th e i r
ge o me tr y .
Fo r
e xampl e ,
i t i s
e asy
to no ti ce th e
supe r -
po si ti o n
o f at l e ast th r e e
po i nts
o f vi e w
i n th e
Tr i ni ty :
th e l e f t
ange l
i s sh o wn
f r o m th e
r i gh t,
th e
r i gh t
o ne f r o m th e
l e f t and th e
ange l
i n th e mi d d l e f r o m
th e f r o nt. Fur th e r mo r e , th e
pe d e stal
o f
th e l e f t
ange l
i s
d e pi cte d
i n
sl i gh t
i n-
ve r se
pe r spe cti ve ,
wh i l e th e
pe d e stal
o f
th e
r i gh t
o ne i s
d e pi cte d
axo no -
me tr i cal l y .
Th e
te mpl e
o n th e l e f t i s
al so
d e pi cte d axo no me tr i cal l y ,
but i ts
spati al
axi s i s d i r e cte d
o ppo si te
th e axi s
o f th e
r i gh t pe d e stal (Fi g. 8). It i s
e asy
to
i magi ne
th e
e d ge s
o f th e Co mmun-
i o n tabl e , wh i ch i s co ve r e d
by
th e an-
ge l s'
kne e s:
f o l l o wi ng
th e
l o gi c
o f co n-
str ucti ng
th e l e f t and
r i gh t par ts
o f th e
i co n
th e y
can
o nl y d i ve r ge (Fi g. 8).
As a matte r o f f act, th e
pr o bl e m
o f
co nve y i ng
th e
d e pth
o f
space
i n th e
two -d i me nsi o nal
pl ane
o f an i co n was
no t a sci e nti f i c o ne f o r Russi an i co n-
pai nte r s
as i t was f o r
Eur o pe an
Re nai s-
sance ar ti sts. No t th e
ge o me tr y
o f
space ,
but th e
ge o me tr y
o f
sy mbo l
i n-
spi r e d
th e Russi an
i co n-pai nte r .
He d i d
no t
co py
th e r e al wo r l d
acco r d i ng
to
th e l aws o f
pe r spe cti ve ,
but cr e ate d h i s
o wn i r r ati o nal wo r l d o f th e
space
o f th e
Fi g.
7. Th e me 2. Th r e e
o ctago ns
o f th e
Tr i ni ty :
th e
al l -e mbr aci ng o ctago n,
th e
o ctago n
o f
th e
ange l s,
th e
o ctago n
o f th e h and s and th e
cup.
i co n. Th at i s
wh y
P.
Fl o r e nsky , co mpar -
i ng
th e
str ai gh t
and i nve r se
pe r spe c-
ti ve s, cal l e d th e f i r st o ne
"r apaci o usl y
me ch ani sti c" and th e se co nd o ne
"me d i tati ve l y
cr e ati ve "
[24].
Si nce th e tr i une Go d e xi sts f o r th e sake
o f man, Rubl y o v
tur ns h i s
Tr i ni ty
to war d s
th e aud i e nce . Th i s i s
po ssi bl e
to ach i e ve
e i th e r
by putti ng
th e th r e e
ange l s
i n o ne
r o w (such co mpo si ti o ns
o f th e
Tr i ni ty
ar e
kno wn, but
th e y
ar e to o
pr i mi ti ve
and to o
"no n-tr i une "), o r
by pr e se nti ng
th e an-
ge l s
o n th e si d e s f r o m
o ppo si te po i nts
o f
vi e w, just
as
Rubl y o v
d o e s.
But th e
supe r po si ti o n
o f th e two
o p-
po si te po i nts
o f vi e w l e ad s to a
str o ng
i n-
ve r se
pe r spe cti ve
o f th e Co mmuni o n
tabl e (se e Fi g. 8), wh i ch i s
f l agr antl y
i n-
ad e quate
to th e
pe r ce i ve d space .
Und e r -
stand i ng th at, Rubl y o v
co nce al s th e
si d e s o f th e Co mmuni o n tabl e be h i nd
th e kne e s o f th e
ange l s.
No w th e
o ppo -
si te
ange l s
si t a l i ttl e to o cl o se , l e ani ng
upo n
th e tabl e , but
th e y
h i d e th e to o -
o bvi o us co ntr ad i cti o n wi th i n th e i co n.
No te th at, f o l l o wi ng
th e
l o gi c
o f i nve r se
pe r spe cti ve ,
th e f act th at th e
i mage
o f
th e
ange l
i n th e mi d d l e (th e d i stant
o ne ) i s
h i gh e r
th an th e
i mage s
o f th e
o th e r two (th e ne ar o ne s) i s
qui te
justi -
f i e d . It
co r r e spo nd s
to th e
e qual po si -
ti o n o f th e
ange l s
i n th e r e al
space .
We sh al l no t
r e gar d
h e r e th e
ge o -
me tr i cal , ph y si o l o gi cal
and
co mpo si -
ti o nal r e aso ns f o r
usi ng
i nve r se
pe r spe c-
ti ve i n Russi an
i co n-pai nti ng
th at we r e
r e vi e we d i n d e tai l i n Rausch e nbach 's
wo r k [25]. Rath e r , we sh al l
sto p
at i ts
ph i l o so ph y ,
f o r th e r o o ts o f
any
wo r l d
o utl o o k, r e f l e cte d i n ar t, ar e to be
se ar ch e d i n i ts
ph i l o so ph y .
It i s no t th e We ste r n
way (i .e . th e
l o gi -
cal
co gni ti o n
o f th e
par ti cul ar )
but th e
Easte r n
way (i .e . th e
e xtr al o gi cal
co n-
te mpl ati o n
o f th e wh o l e ) th at i s cl o se r to
th e
way
o f th e Russi an
i co n-pai nte r s.
No t
so much th e f actual as th e e l e vate d
me ani ng i nspi r e d
th e m. Th e "un-
e ar th l y " ge o me tr y
o f i nve r se
pe r spe cti ve
and th e
ge o me tr i cal
l i be r ti e s o f Russi an
i co n-pai nti ng
o n th e wh o l e ar e d i ctate d
by
th e
ph i l o so ph y
o f th e
h e ave nl y wo r l d ,
th e ce l e sti al to wn, wh i ch i s
h i gh e r
th an
any ge o me tr i cal
o r
l o gi cal
d e tai l s. No t
th e
ph y si cal
si d e o f th e
pi ctur e ,
but i ts
spi r i tual me ani ng;
no t th e
r e vi e wi ng
o f
e ar th l y th i ngs,
but th e asce nsi o n to war d s
He ave n-th e se we r e th e
ph i l o so ph y
o f
th e Ol d Russi an
i co n-pai nte r s.
Th e
ve r sati l i ty
and r e ti ce nce o f th e
ph i l o so ph y
o f
Rubl y o v's Tr i ni ty
cal l e d f o r
a si mi l ar
appr o ach
i n th e
ge o me tr y
o f
th e i co n. Th at i s th e r e aso n f o r th e co m-
bi nati o n o f d i f f e r e nt axo no me tr i e s i n
108 Vo l o sh i no v, Th e Ol d Te stame nt Tr i ni ty
This content downloaded from 194.95.59.195 on Thu, 20 Feb 2014 17:42:13 PM
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
th e
Tr i ni ty
and th e
unce r tai nty
o f th e
o utl i ne o f th e Co mmuni o n tabl e . Tr ue
ar t
say s much , but i t h o l d s back mo r e .
Th e
po we r
and ch ar m o f
Rubl y o v's
Tr i n-
i ty
i s i n i ts r e ti ce nce .
THEME 4. REVELATION:
MIRROR SYMMETRY
Sy mme tr y i mpl i e s
i d e as o f
h o mo ge ne i ty ,
i nvar i ance and
e qui l i br i um.
Mi r r o r
sy m-
me tr y
h as al so a
ti nge
o f cal m. Th e ve r ti -
cal axi s o r th e
pl ane
o f
sy mme tr y (bi l at-
e r al
sy mme tr y )
i n natur e ch ar acte r i ze s
th e
stabi l i ty
and
e qui l i br i um
o f an
o bje ct
(mi r r o r sy mme tr y
o f th e
r i gh t
and th e
l e f t). Sno w-co ve r e d mo untai ns ar e r e -
f l e cte d i n th e f r o ze n wate r o f a
h i gh l and
l ake (mi r r o r sy mme tr y
o f th e
to p
and
th e bo tto m). Th e f i r st
ty pe
o f mi r r o r
sy mme tr y
i s r e al i ze d i n th e
Tr i ni ty .
As se e n i n
Fi g. 9, th e l e f t and
r i gh t
si d e s o f th e
Tr i ni ty
ar e
mi r r o r -sy mme tr i -
cal . Th e o utl i ne s o f th e backs o f th e l e f t
and
r i gh t ange l s
co i nci d e
e xactl y ,
and
th e ce nte r s o f th e f ace s al so co i nci d e e x-
actl y , al th o ugh
th e f ace s th e mse l ve s and
th e h al o s ar e sh i f te d
sl i gh tl y .
Th e
po si -
ti o ns o f th e f e e t and th e
pe d e stal s
ar e
sh i f te d
sl i gh tl y ,
and th e
te mpl e
i s mi r -
r o r -sy mme tr i cal
to th e mo untai n.
Mi r r o r
sy mme tr y
i s br o ke n
pr i nci pal l y
o nl y
i n th e o utl i ne o f th e ce ntr al
ange l :
th e tur n o f h i s
bo d y
and h and s i s
asy m-
me tr i cal , h i s h e ad i s be nt to war d th e
vi e we r 's l e f t, wh i l e th e
cup,
at wh i ch h e
po i nts,
i s sh i f te d to th e
r i gh t. Fi nal l y ,
th e
wh o l e
asy mme tr y
o f th e ce nte r i s und e r -
l i ne d
by
th e Mamr e an Oak-th e
o nl y
pr i nci pal l y asy mme tr i cal
e l e me nt o f th e
co mpo si ti o n,
d e vo i d as i t i s o f a mi r r o r -
sy mme tr i cal
match .
It i s th e ce ntr al
asy mme tr i cal ange l
wh o
i s th e so ur ce o f mo ve me nt and
e ne r gy .
It
i s f r o m h i m th at th e Re ve l ati o n i ssue s to
th e two
ange l s
o n th e si d e s, wh o l i ste n to
h i m i mmo vabl e i n
mi r r o r -sy mme tr i cal
e qui l i br i um.
Th e Re ve l ati o n f o und and
th e cal m o f th e tr uth f o und
f o l l o wi ng
i t-
th e
asy mme tr y
o f th e ce nte r
e xpl o d e d
i n
th e ce nte r and cal me d d o wn i n th e mi r r o r
sy mme tr y
o f th e
r i gh t
and l e f t si d e s-ar e ,
i n
my o pi ni o n,
th e
ph i l o so ph i cal
co nte nt
o f mi r r o r
sy mme tr y
o f th e
Tr i ni ty .
In th i s
l i gh t,
th e
ge o me tr y
o f th e Tr i n-
i ty
se e ms to f avo r no t th e
Sto gl avy
So bo r 's
d e ci si o n, but th at o f
th e o l o gi ans
N.
Go l ubtso v and A. Ve te l e v: th e
ange l
i n
th e mi d d l e i s th e f i r st
h y po stasi s
o f th e
Tr i ni ty , Go d th e Fath e r , appe al i ng f o r th e
THEME 5. ILLUMINATION:
THE THREE CUPS OF THE
TRINITY
Th e cal m o f th e Re ve l ati o n canno t l ast
f o r e ve r .
Havi ng
e nte r e d th e l i ste ne r 's
so ul , th e Re ve l ati o n i s
i ne vi tabl y r e pl ace d
by
th e Il l umi nati o n:
by
th e
spl ash
o f th e
l i ste ne r 's
th o ugh t;
th e
passi ve pe r ce pti o n
i s
r e pl ace d by
th e acti ve cr e ati o n.
Wh at
th o ugh t
i l l umi ne s and uni te s
th e
Tr i ni ty ?
It i s th e
th o ugh t
o f th e
cup.
Th e
cup
i s th e ce nte r o f th e
co mpo si -
ti o n o f th e
Tr i ni ty ,
th e mai n
guar anto r
o f
Inse par abi l i ty
and Ho mo o usi o s
(co nsubstanti al i ty ?)
o f th e
Tr i ni ty .
Th e
mo ve me nt o f al l th r e e
ange l s' r i gh t
h and s i s d i r e cte d to war d th e
cup,
wh i ch
se e ms to
ke e p
th e
ce ntr i pe tal
f o r ce s o f
th e
Tr i ni ty
i n th e i r e te r nal ci r cul ar mo -
ti o n. Th e
cup i tse l f , pl ace d
o n th e al tar -
l i ke Co mmuni o n tabl e , e xpr e sse s
th e
i d e a o f sacr i f i ce . ". . . th e
cup
wh i ch
my
Fath e r h ath
gi ve n me , sh al l I no t d r i nk
i t?" (Jo h n 18:11).
But i n th e
co mpo si ti o n
o f th e
Tr i ni ty
Fi g.
8. Th e me 3. Th e i nve r se pe r spe cti ve
o f th e
Tr i ni ty .
A co mbi nati o n o f th e two d i f f e r -
e ntl y
d i r e cte d axo no me tr i e s i n th e
Tr i ni ty
i s th e r e aso n f o r th e
str o ng
i nve r se
pe r spe cti ve
o f th e Co mmuni o n tabl e .
.
ne ce ssi ty
o f
o f f e r i ng
h i s So n f o r th e r e -
d e mpti o n
o f si n. Fo r , "Gr e ate r l o ve h ath
no man th an th i s, th at a man
l ay
d o wn
h i s l i f e f o r h i s f r i e nd s" (Jo h n 15:13).
Vo l o sh i no v, Th e Ol d Te stame nt
Tr i ni ty 109
This content downloaded from 194.95.59.195 on Thu, 20 Feb 2014 17:42:13 PM
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
Fi g.
9. Th e me 4. Th e Re ve l ati o n: mi r r o r
sy mme tr y .
Th e mi r r o r
Fi g.
10. Th e me 5. Th e Il l umi nati o n: th r e e
cups
o f th e
Tr i ni ty .
Th e
sy mme tr y
o f th e l e f t and
r i gh t par ts
o f th e i co n and th e
asy mme tr y th r e e
cups
ar e th e th r e e
sy mbo l s
o f sacr i f i ce f o r Fai th , Lo ve and
o f th e ce ntr al par t. Ho pe .
we can
e asi l y
se e no t o ne but th r e e
cups:
th e
cup
o n th e Co mmuni o n tabl e , th e
cup
mad e
up by
th e i nne r o utl i ne s o f
th e
ange l s
and th e
cup
mad e
up by
th e
o ute r co nto ur s o f th e
ange l s
and
th r o ne s
(Fi g. 10). Wh at
cups
ar e th e se ?
I wi sh to o f f e r th e
f o l l o wi ng i nte r pr e -
tati o n o f th e th r e e
cups
o f th e
Tr i ni ty .
Th e f i r st (i nne r ) cup
i s Abr ah am's sac-
r i f i ce f o r Fai th . As th e Ol d Te stame nt
tr ad i ti o n
say s,
Abr ah am and h i s wi f e Sa-
r ah me t th r e e
ange l s
und e r th e sh ad e
o f th e Mamr e an Oak
ve r y ami abl y .
Abr ah am to l d Sar ah to kne ad "th r e e
me asur e s o f f i ne me al " and to "d r e ss a
cal f te nd e r and
go o d ,"
and
th e y
tr e ate d
th e
ange l s. Th e y
sur mi se d th at i t was
Go d i n th e i r h o use and
e xpr e sse d
th e i r
Fai th i n Hi m and th e i r be l i e f i n Hi s
pr o ph e cy
th at Sar ah wo ul d h ave a so n
(Ge ne si s, 18:1-16).
Th e se co nd
cup r e pr e se nts
Go d th e
Fath e r 's sacr i f i ce f o r th e Lo ve o f Hu-
mani ty . Acco r d i ng
to th e Fath e r 's wi l l ,
th e So n was ch o se n to be th e Savi o r o f
th e wo r l d and Man. Th e So n
go e s
to
e ar th to ato ne f o r h uman si ns wi th h i s
o wn
suf f e r i ngs.
Fath e r sacr i f i ce s So n and
So n sacr i f i ce s h i mse l f f o r th e l o ve o f h u-
mani ty .
Th at i s th e
sy mbo l i sm
o f th e se c-
o nd
cup, gr e ate r
i n
me ani ng
th an th e
o ne
pl ace d
o n th e Co mmuni o n tabl e .
But i f th e f i r st
cup
co ntai ns th e h e ad
o f th e sacr i f i ci al
cal f ,
th e se co nd
cup
can
co ntai n
o nl y
Our Savi o r -i n wh i ch case ,
i s th e
ange l
i n th e mi d d l e Ch r i st?
May be
th i s
e xch ange
o f r o l e s to o k
pl ace
wh i l e
th e Re ve l ati o n was
ch ange d by
th e Il l u-
mi nati o n,
f o r th e
Tr i ni ty
i tse l f i s
h o mo o usi an, no n-amal gamati ve
and i n-
se par abl e .
Fi nal l y ,
th e th i r d (o ute r ) cup r e pr e -
se nts th e
Tr i ni ty 's
sacr i f i ce f o r th e
Ho pe
o f Sal vati o n. Th e th i r d
cup
i s mad e
up
by
th e
Tr i ni ty
and co ntai ns th e wh o l e
Tr i ni ty .
Go d th e Fath e r and th e
Ho l y
Gh o st canno t l e ave Go d th e So n al o ne
i n th e se co nd sacr i f i ci al
cup,
f o r th e
Tr i ni ty
i s
i nse par abl e : th e y
make
up
th e
th i r d and
gr e ate st
sacr i f i ci al
cup
wh i ch
i ncl ud e s th e mse l ve s.
Th e y
be l i e ve th at
th e sacr i f i ce f o r Lo ve wi l l no t be i n vai n,
and th e wh o l e
Tr i ni ty
sacr i f i ce s i tse l f f o r
th e
Ho pe
o f Sal vati o n.
So , we h ave two
co ntr ar i l y
d i r e cte d
mo ve me nts i n
co mpr e h e nd i ng
th e
me ani ngs
o f th e
Tr i ni ty .
Th e o ute r
ci r cl e o f th e
ange l s
and th e o ute r o cta-
go n
o f th e
co mpo si ti o n
l e ad us to th e
mo st sacr e d
pl ace
o f th e i co n-th e
cup
and th e
ange l 's
h and
po i nti ng
at
i t,
wh i ch ar e co nf i ne d i n th e i nne r ci r cl e
and
o ctago n.
Th e
co ntr ar y
mo ve me nt
i ssue s f r o m th e
cup
o n th e Co mmuni o n
tabl e to i ts l ate nt se manti c
ge ne r al i za-
ti o ns i n th e i nne r and o ute r co nto ur s o f
th e
ange l s.
Th e i d e a o f sacr i f i ce co ul d no t
h e l p
be i ng
th e co r ne r sto ne o f
Rubl y o v's gr e at-
e st wo r k: i t to uch e d
e ve r y
Russi an h e ar t
i n
And r e y Rubl y o v's d ay , e spe ci al l y
si nce
Rus i tse l f tur ne d o ut to be sacr i f i ce d to
th e Tar tar i nte r ve nti o ni sts i n th e name o f
th e sal vati o n o f
Eur o pe an
cul tur e .
THEME 6.
TRANSFIGURATION:
DYNAMIC SYMMETRY
Th e o utbur st o f Il l umi nati o n i s i ne vi ta-
bl y
f o l l o we d
by
th e
Tr ansf i gur ati o n-th e
r i se o f a l uci d so ul to th e ne w
pe aks
o f
th o ugh t
and se nse .
Tr ansf i gur ati o n
i s
d y nami sm,
th e ve r ti cal r i se , th e r e al i za-
ti o n o f th e tr uth bo r n
by
th e Il l umi na-
ti o n. If th e
ge o me tr y
o f th e Re ve l ati o n i s
cal m,
stati c and h o r i zo ntal (h o r i zo ntal
mi r r o r
sy mme tr y ),
th e
ge o me tr y
o f th e
Tr ansf i gur ati o n
must be
i mpe tuo us, d y -
nami c,
ve r ti cal . A wh o l e
gamut
o f ve r ti -
cal
pr o po r ti o ns
o f th e
go l d e n
se cti o n i n
th e
Tr i ni ty co r r e spo nd s
to th at i d e a.
If th e
h e i gh t
o f th e i co n i s H
=
1,
we
can se e th at th e l i ne o f th e mai n
go l d e n
se cti o n 4)
(l e t us cal l i t th e l i ne o f th e
co mpo si ti o nal
ce nte r 1)
passe s e xactl y
110 Vo l o sh i no v, Th e Ol d Te stame nt Tr i ni ty
This content downloaded from 194.95.59.195 on Thu, 20 Feb 2014 17:42:13 PM
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
Fi g
11. Th e me 6.
Th e
Tr ansf i gur a-
ti o n:
d y nami c sy m-
me tr y . Th e se r i e s o f
th e
go l d e n se cti o n
1, 0, 2, 03, ,4, 4,5, ,6,
47 i n th e ve r ti cal
pr o po r ti o ns o f th e
Tr i ni ty .
I _ -~
th r o ugh
th e ce nte r o f th e
cup (Fi g. 11).
Me asur i ng
o f f 4,2
upwar d s
and
O3
d o wn-
war d s f r o m
11,
we
ge t co r r e spo nd i ngl y
th e
uppe r
l i ne o f th e
co mpo si ti o nal
ce n-
te r
l 2 (th i s i s th e l i ne o f th e
ange l
i n th e
mi d d l e ) and th e l o we r l i ne o f th e co m-
po si ti o nal ce nte r
13
(th i s i s th e l i ne o f th e
ange l s'
be nt
l e gs). Fi nal l y , me asur i ng
o f f
,)4
upwar d s
and 45 d o wnwar d s f r o m
11,
we
ge t co r r e spo nd i ngl y
th e
uppe r
me an
l i ne o f th e
co mpo si ti o nal ce nte r 14 (th i s
i s th e l i ne o f th e h al o and sh o ul d e r s o f
th e
ange l s
o n th e
si d e s) and th e l o we r
me an l i ne o f th e
co mpo si ti o nal ce nte r
15
(th i s i s th e l i ne o f th e f r o nt
e d ge
o f th e
Co mmuni o n
tabl e ). Th e smal l e r ve r ti cal
ar ti cul ati o ns o f th e
Tr i ni ty
i n
go l d e n pr o -
po r ti o n
ar e al so sh o wn i n
Fi g.
11.
So , th e ve r ti cal co nstr ucti o n o f th e
co mpo si ti o n
o f th e
Tr i ni ty
i s d e f i ne d
by
at l e ast
e i gh t
me mbe r s o f th e
go l d e n se c-
ti o n se r i e s
1, 4, 02, 43, 04, 05,4 6,
47.
We can al so d e te r mi ne a se r i e s o f
go l d e n pr o po r ti o ns th at ar e no t co n-
ne cte d wi th th e
co mpo si ti o nal ce nte r
11. Fo r
e xampl e ,
th e
h e i gh t
o f th e an-
ge l s
o n th e si d e s f r o m th e
to p
o f th e i r
h e ad s to th e i r f e e t ar e
e xactl y e qual
to
4, and th e vi si bl e
h e i gh t
o f th e
ange l
i n
th e mi d d l e f r o m th e
to p
o f th e h e ad to
th e Co mmuni o n tabl e i s 42, i .e . th e
h e i gh ts
o f th e
i co n, th e
ange l s
o n th e
si d e s, and th e
ange l
i n th e mi d d l e ar e
r e l ate d i n th e
go l d e n pr o po r ti o n.
Th e
ve r ti cal d i me nsi o ns o f th e
ange l s'
h e ad s wi th o ut th e h al o s ar e 45, and
wi th th e h al o s
th e y
ar e (4 (i n o r d e r no t
to
co mpl i cate Fi g.
11 th e se
pr o po r ti o ns
ar e no t
sh o wn). And so o n
upwar d s
and d o wnwar d s o n a ve r ti cal th e
qui e tl y
no bl e
"r y e " go l d
o f
Rubl y o v's co l o r s
tur ns i nto th e
pr o ud l y gl o r i o us "go l d "
o f i ts
pr o po r ti o ns.
As i f i n a
te mpl e , th e
mi gh ty ch o r d s o f
go l d e n pr o po r ti o ns o f th e
Tr i ni ty
r i se
ve r ti cal l y
i n i t. Th e
d y nami c sy mme tr y
o f
l i f e , th e
h ar mo ny
o f th e tr uth f i nd
so und i n th e se ch o r d s. Th e r i se to th e
ne w Tr uth -i s th i s no t th e
Tr ansf i gur a-
ti o n th at we kno w f r o m th e Ne w Te sta-
me nt: ". . . and
br i ng
th e m
up
i nto an
h i gh
mo untai n
apar t, and was
tr ansf i g-
ur e d be f o r e th e m: and h i s f ace d i d sh i ne
as th e
sun, and h i s r ai me nt d i d sh i ne as
th e
l i gh t" (Matth e w, 17:1,2).
CONCLUSION
Th i s
i nve sti gati o n
o f th e
ge o me tr i cal
and
ph i l o so ph i cal aspe cts
o f
Rubl y o v's
Tr i ni ty
i n no
way
h as a cl ai m o n
co mpl e -
ti o n;
as wi th mo st d i sse r tati o ns o n d i f f e r -
e nt
maste r pi e ce s,
th i s o ne h as
bar e l y
be -
gun
to scr atch th e sur f ace .
Ste nd h al o nce sai d : "Th e
po i nt
i s no t
to l e ar n to
d r aw, but to l e ar n to th i nk."
Ear l i e r , Pl ato vo i ce d a si mi l ar
th o ugh t
wi th th e mo tto o ve r th e e ntr ance to h i s
Acad e my :
"Do no t e nte r i f no t a
ge o m-
e te r ." In
my o pi ni o n
th e tr ue ar ti st must
be a
ph i l o so ph e r
and a
ge o me te r .
Russi an
sai nt
And r e y Rubl y o v sur e l y
was bo th .
Th e
ur ge
to
anal y si s
and d i sco ur se i s
a h uman
ch ar acte r i sti c, e spe ci al l y
f o r
th o se o f us i nf l ue nce d
by
a
h i sto r y
o f
We ste r n
l o gi c
and
th o ugh t.
But
may be
i t wo ul d be wi se r to
sto p
th e se e f f o r ts to
co mpr e h e nd
th e
i nco mpr e h e nsi bl e
and to ad mi t th e d i vi ne
i nspi r ati o n
Vo l o sh i no v, Th e Ol d Te stame nt
Tr i ni ty
111
This content downloaded from 194.95.59.195 on Thu, 20 Feb 2014 17:42:13 PM
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
pr e se nt
i n th e
gr e at
wo r k o f th e
h umbl e mo nk
And r e y Rubl y o v.
Re f e r e nce s and No te s
1. Th e numbe r o f wr i ti ngs abo ut th e se th r e e me n o f
Ol d Russi a i s r e al l y i ncal cul abl e , so I wi l l me nti o n a
f e w o f th e mo st si gni f i cant: V.
Kl uch e vsky ,
"Th e
Si g-
ni f i cance o f Re ve r e nd Se r gi us f o r th e Russi an
Pe o pl e and State ," Bo go sl o vsky Ve stni k, (No ve mbe r
1892) pp. 190-204 (i n Russi an). D. Li kh ach y o v, Th e
Cul tur e
o f
Rus i n th e Ti me
o f And r e y Rubl y o v and
Epi ph ani us th e Wi se (l ate f o ur te e nth -e ar l y f i f te e nth
ce ntur i e s) (Mo sco w-Le ni ngr ad : Th e Pr i nti ng-Ho use
o f th e Acad e my o f Sci e nce o f th e USSR, 1962) (i n
Russi an). M. Al pato v, "On th e Gl o bal Si gni f i cance
o f
And r e y Rubl y o v's Ar t," Kh ud o zh ni k 12 (1980) pp.
48-57 (i n Russi an). V.
Pl ugi n, "Se r gi us o f
Rad o ne zh -Dmi tr y Do nsko y -And r e y Rubl y o v,"
Th e
Hi sto r y o f th e USSR, No . 4, (1989) pp. 71-88 (i n
Russi an). M. Al pato v, "La val e ur cl assi que d e
Rubl e v," Co mme ntar i 1 (1958) pp. 25-37. V. Lazar e v,
And r e j Rubl e v (Mi l an, 1966).
2. Sto gl av (St. Pe te r sbur g:
Th e
Pr i nti ng-Ho use
o f
Hi s Maje sty 's Acad e my o f Sci e nce , 1863) p. 128 (i n
Russi an).
3. N. De mi na, And r e y Rubl y o v and th e Ar ti sts o f Hi s
Ci r cl e (Mo sco w: Nauka, 1972) (i n Russi an).
4. P. Fl o r e nsky , "Th e Tr i ni ty -St. Se r gi us Mo naste r y
and Russi a," i n Th e
Tr i ni ty -St. Se r gi us Mo naste r y
(Se r gi y e v Po sad : 1919) pp. 19-20 (i n Russi an).
5. Far f r o m al l anci e nt i co n-pai nte r s pai d atte nti o n
to such a "tr i f l e ." It i s al so d i sr e gar d e d
i n e ase l
pai nti ng,
f o r th e f r ame o f a pi ctur e , manuf actur e d
f r o m
mo l d i ng o f e qual wi d th , ch ange s th e pr o po r -
ti o ns o f th e pi ctur e and th e f r ame as a wh o l e .
6. A. Ti tz, "So me Ge ne r al Fe atur e s o f th e
Co mpo si -
ti o ns o f th e Ico ns o f Rubl y o v and Hi s Sch o o l ," i n
Anci e nt Russi an Ar t
o f
th e
Fi f te e nth
and
Ear l y Si xte e nth
Ce ntur i e s (Mo sco w: Th e
Pr i nti ng-Ho use
o f th e
Acad e my o f Sci e nce o f th e USSR, 1963) pp. 22-53.
7. As h i sto r i cal r e co r d s unani mo usl y state ,
Py th ago r as d i sco ve r e d th e r ati o s f o r th e th r e e mo st
h ar mo ni o us musi cal i nte r val s cal l e d pe r f e ct (mai n)
co nso nance s: o ctave -2:1; qui nt-3:2; f o ur th -4:3.
Th e f act th at th e
pr o po r ti o ns
o f
pe r f e ct
co nso -
nance s we r e d e scr i be d wi th th e h e l p
o f f o ur natur al
nti mbe r s, wh i ch to tal th e sacr e d numbe r 10 (1 + 2
+ 3 + 4 =
10), d r o ve th e
Py th ago r e ans
to
my sti cal
e ntr ance . Th e
d i sco ve r y o f th e l aw o f co nso nance s
ui r ge d
o n th e
Py th ago r e ans
to th e f amo us mo tto
"al l i s numbe r " and to
se ar ch i ng
musi cal
pr o po r -
ti o ns i n th e wh o l e uni ve r se (th e th e o r y
o f th e h ar -
mo ny
o f
sph e r e s). One h und r e d
f i f ty y e ar s
af te r
Py th ago r as, th e Py th ago r e an sch o l ar Ar ch y tas
ad d e d to th e th r e e
pe r f e ct
co nso nance s two
i mpe r -
f e ct o ne s:
majo r th i r d -5:4; mi no r th i r d -6:5.
8. Vi tr uvi us, Te n Bo o ks o n Ar ch i te ctur e (NY: Do ve r ,
1960). (Bo o k IV, Ch . 4, Par a.
1).
9. Vi tr uvi us [8] (Bo o k. VI, Ch . 3, Par a. 3).
10. L.B. Al be r ti , 7Te n Bo o ks o n Ar ch i te ctur e (Lo nd o n:
Ti r anti , 1955).
11. Le t us r e me mbe r th at th e go l d e n se cti o n
(Le o nar d o d a Vi nci 's te r m) o r th e d i vi ne
pr o po r -
ti o n (Jo h anne s Ke pl e r 's te r m) i s th e
ge o me tr i cal
pr o po r ti o n th at d i vi d e s th e wh o l e a i nto a
l ar ge r
par t
x and smal l e r par t
a
-
x so th at:
a x
x a
-
x
wh e r e
/5+1
x =a O4, 4)
= =
1.618033989 ...
2
wi th 4D as th e co e f f i ci e nt o f th e
go l d e n
se cti o n.
Re gar d i ng th e i nve r se r ati o a
-
x : x = x: a, th e r e i s
th e i nve r si o n o f th e co e f f i ci e nt o f th e go l d e n se cti o n
1 /5-1
=-= = 0.618033989...
q 2
Each o f th e "go l d e n" par ts
o f th e wh o l e can be f ur -
th e r d i vi d e d i n go l d e n pr o po r ti o n and so o n, i nf i -
ni te l y . Th e r e f o r e , wh e r e th e go l d e n pr o po r ti o n
i s
i mpl e me nte d , th e r e appe ar s a wh o l e gamut o f
go l d e n pr o po r ti o ns, so i t wo ul d be mo r e co r r e ct to
spe ak
o f a go l d e n se cti o n se r i e s
1,
?,
?2,
? ,
....
po sse ssi ng th e ad d i ti ve ch ar acte r i sti cs
+ =
1
,2
+
?4
=
?,
?, +
04
=
?.2
Th e r ati o nal appr o xi mati o ns o f th e go l d e n se cti o n
co e f f i ci e nt ar e d e f i ne d by th e r ati o o f th e two
ne i gh bo r i ng numbe r s o f Fi bo nacci :
{u
}
= 1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21,.. . (u
=
u + u
,,n
>
1)
so
i -o o
U
Th e ge o me tr i cal me th o d o f
co nstr ucti ng th e
go l d e n se cti o n wi th th e h e l p o f th e d i ago nal o f th e
d o ubl e
squar e
i s d e scr i be d i n Eucl i d 's El e me nts
(Bo o k II, Pr o po si ti o n 11). Th e d i vi si o n i n th e e x-
tr e me and me d i um r ati o s i s wr i tte n o f i n Pl ato 's
Ti me a, but Py th ago r e ans se e m to h ave kno wn abo ut
th e go l d e n se cti o n, to o . Th e
pe ntagr am-th e i r se -
cr e t i d e nti f i cati o n mar k and a sy mbo l o f h e al th -
te sti f i e s to i t, si nce i t co ntai ns an i nf i ni te go l d e n
se cti o n se r i e s.
12. Eucl i d
[11] (Bo o k VI, Ch . 3, Par a. 3).
13. V. Pe tr o v and N. Pr y ani sh ni co v, "Th e Fo r mul as
o f Be auti f ul Pr o po r ti o ns," Numbe r and Th o ugh t, No .
2 (Mo sco w: Znani y e , 1979) pp. 72-92 (i n Russi an).
14. G. Fe ch ne r , Vo r sch ul e d e r Asth e ti k (Le i pzi g:
Br e i tko pf & Har l e t, 1876).
15. Se e Pe tr o v and Pr y ani sh ni co v [13].
16. Th e Tr i ni ty o f And r e y Rubl y o v. Anth o l o gy ,
G.
Vzd o r no v, e d . (Mo sco w: Iskusstvo , 1989) (i n Russi an).
17. Se e Ti tz [6].
18. Se e Al pato v and Lazar e v i n
Anth o l o gy [16].
19. Se e Go l ubtso v and Ve te l e v i n
Anth o l o gy [16].
20. G. Po me r antz, "Rubl y o v's Tr i ni ty
and
Tr i ni tar y
Me ntal i ty "
i n Th e Way Out o f a Tr ance (Mo sco w:
Yur i st, 1995) pp. 316-337 (i n Russi an).
21. Se e D. Pe d o e , Ge o me tr y
and th e Li be r al Ar ts
(Har mo nd swo r th : Pe ngui n Bo o ks Ltd ., 1976).
22. Se e Sve ch e v i n
Anth o l o gy [16].
23. Se e
Li kh ach y o v [1].
24. P.
Fl o r e nsky ,
"Th e Inve r se
Pe r spe cti ve ,"
i n Th e
Ph i l o so ph y o f Russi an Re l i gi o us
Ar t
o f th e Si xte e nth to
7Twe nti e th Ce ntur i e s.
Anth o l o gy (Mo sco w: Pr o gr e ss-
Cul tur e , 1993) p. 247-264.
25. B. Rausch e nbach , Spati al
Co nstr ucti o ns i n th e Ol d
Russi an Pai nti ng (Mo sco w: Nauka, 1975).
Gl o ssar y
axo no me tr y (par al l e l pe r spe cti ve )-h i sto r i cal l y th e
f i r st ar ti sti c me th o d o f
d e pi cti ng space
o n th e
pl ane ,
i n wh i ch th e th i r d co o r d i nate
(d e pth )
was
gi ve n al o ng so me i ncl i ne d axi s. l i ne s pai al l e l
i l l
th e d e pth o f space r e mai n par al l e l i n axo no me tr y
(th us i t i s al so cal l e d par al l e l pe r spe cti ve ).
Ho mo o usi o s
(co nsubstanti al i ty )-(f r o m
th e Gr e e k
"h o mo o usi o s," me ani ng "o f o ne substance ") o ne o f
th e mai n d o gmata o f th e Tr i ni ty , asse r ti ng th at al l
th r e e o f i ts h y po stase s h ave th e same substance . In
th e "str i ct" f o r mul ati o n, th e
d o gma o f Ho mo o usi o s
af f i r ms th at th e o ne and o nl y Go d co nsi sts o f th r e e
h y po stase s, e ach o f wh i ch i s Go d (po sse sse s d i vi ne
substance ).
h y po stasi s-i n
Ch r i sti an i d e o l o gy , any o f th e th r e e
pe r so ns o f th e
Tr i ni ty . Acco r d i ng to th e d o gma o f
Tr i uni ty , Go d i s pr e se nte d by th r e e h y po stase s: Go d
th e Fath e r , Go d th e So n, and Go d th e Ho l y Gh o st.
Inse par abi l i ty -o ne
o f th e mai n
d o gmata
o f th e
tr i pl i ci ty , asse r ti ng th at al l th r e e
h y po stase s
o f th e
Tr i ni ty al way s e xi st and act to ge th e r . Th e d o gma o f
Inse par abi l i ty abso l ute l y e xcl ud e s th e acti ng o f
o ne h y po stasi s o f th e Tr i ni ty i nd e pe nd e nt f r o m
th e o th e r s.
i nve r se pe r spe cti ve -an ar ti sti c me th o d o f
r e pr e -
se nti ng space o n th e pl ane ,
i n wh i ch r e mo te o b-
je cts
ar e sh o wn l ar ge r th an cl o se o ne s. Li ne s par al -
l e l i n th e
d e pth o f space ar e pr e se nte d as
d i ve r ge nt.
l i ne ar (str ai gh t o r Re nai ssance ) pe r spe cti ve -a sci -
e nti f i c and ar ti sti c me th o d o f r e pr e se nti ng space
o n th e pl ane , i n wh i ch r e mo te o bje cts ar e sh o wn
smal l e r th an cl o se o ne s. Li ne s par al l e l
i n th e d e pth
o f space ar e pr e se nte d as me e ti ng
i n so me ce nte r -
th e ce ntr al
po i nt
o f th e pi ctur e .
No n-Amal gamati o n-o ne o f th e mai n
d o gmata
o f
th e
tr i pl i ci ty , asse r ti ng th at al l th r e e h y po stase s
o f
th e Tr i ni ty e xi st si mul tane o usl y and
e te r nal l y , th at
th e y ar e d i f f e r e nt i n
qual i ty and canno t stand f o r
e ach o th e r o r be br o ugh t to ge th e r .
Ol d Russi an i co n-pai nti ng-a uni que f o r m o f ar t i n
Ol d Russi a th at al way s h ad a r e l i gi o us subje ct and was
d e sti ne d f o r
r e l i gi o us wo r sh i p.
Ol d Rti ssi an i co ns ar e
pi cto r i al co mpo si ti o ns mad e as a r ul e o n wo o d e n
bo ar d s and mo stl y i n th e te ch ni que
o f
te mpe r a.
Rus-th e i ni ti al name o f Russi a, take n f r o m th e
anci e nt pe o pl e
wh o
gave th e i r name to th e l and o f
Russi a.
Sto gl avy
So bo r -th e jo i nt si tti ng ("so bo r ") o f th e
h i gh e r cl e r gy o f th e Russi an Or th o d o x Ch ur ch , Czar
Ivan IV th e Te r r i bl e and r e pr e se ntati ve s
o f th e go ve r n-
me nt, th at to o k
pl ace
i n Mo sco w i n
Januar y -Fe br uar y
1551. It o we s th e name
"Sto gl avy " ("Hund r e d
Ch apte r e d ")
to th e co d e o f i ts d e ci si o ns, wh i ch was
d i vi d e d i nto 100
ch apte r s. Dur i ng
th e si xte e nth and
se ve nte e nth ce ntur i e s, th e r e sul t o f th e
Sto gl avy
So bo r
mad e
up
th e basi c co d e o f l i f e f o r th e Russi an Or th o -
d o x
cl e r gy
and i ts r e l ati o ns wi th so ci e ty . Th e
Sto gl avy
So bo r uni f i e d ch ur ch r i te s and i nsti tute d co ntr o l o ve r
th e wo r k o f bo o k-wr i te r s and
i co n-pai nte r s.
Tr i ni ty -i n Ch r i sti an d o ctr i ne , th e tr i uni ty
o f th e
Fath e r , th e So n and th e Ho l y Spi r i t as th r e e pe r so ns
i n o ne Go d h e ad . Th e i d e a o f tr i pl i ci ty was f i r st f o r -
mti l ate d at th e Co unci l o f Ni cae a i n 325 th at ac-
ce pte d th e "Cr e d o ," th e
sy mbo l o f f ai th , o bl i gato r y
f o r al l Ch r i sti ans.
tr i pl i ci ty -th e
basi c
th e o l o gi cal d o ctr i ne o f th e
Tr i ni ty , th e e sse nce o f wh i ch i s mad e
up by th e
d o g-
mata o f
Tr i uni ty , Ho mo o usi o s, No n-Amal gamati o n
and
Inse par abi l i ty .
Tr i uni ty -o ne
o f th e mai n d o gmata o f th e
tr i pl i ci ty ,
asse r ti ng
o n th e o ne h and th at Go d i s
uni que
and
o n th e o th e r h and th at Go d
co mpr i se s
th e Tr i ni ty :
Go d th e Fath e r , Go d th e So n and Go d th e Ho l y
Gh o st. Th e i d e a o f
Tr i uni ty
i s o f te n
e xpr e sse d
i n th e
f o l l o wi ng par ad o xi cal e qual i ti e s:
1
=
3 and 3
=
1.
Manuscr i pt
r e ce i ve d 26 Mar ch 1997.
112 Vo l o sh i no v, Th e Ol d Te stame nt Tr i ni ty
This content downloaded from 194.95.59.195 on Thu, 20 Feb 2014 17:42:13 PM
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions