Modern view on the paintings of the upper sanctuary of the Transfiguration Cathedral in Tambov as an example of monumental painting of the second half of the 19th century
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51216/2687-072X_2026_3_183-204Keywords:
Transfiguration Cathedral of Tambov, paintings, church monumental painting, High Renaissance, grisaille.Abstract
This article represents the first art historical study of the monumental paintings in the upper church of the Transfiguration Cathedral in Tambov, dating from the second half of the 19 th century. Although the cathedral was returned to the diocese and resumed services over thirty years ago, its murals have not been the subject of dedicated scholarly analysis. During the Soviet period, they were concealed under a layer of chalk whitewash, which, however, contributed to their preservation.
Due to the limited space of this publication, a selection of Gospel compositions based on Western European pictorial sources from the High Renaissance was selected for detailed examination. The study examines ways of adapting Renaissance examples to the interior of an Orthodox church. Particular attention is paid to technological aspects of the paintings: the authors document the high quality of oil painting on dry plaster and strict adherence to technical standards, thanks to which the monuments have been preserved in satisfactory condition and are now accessible for viewing with virtually no distorting restoration interventions.
Conclusions are drawn about the profound erudition of the Tambov clergy, who, when selecting artistic samples, focused not only on the professional skill of the painters but also on their semantic resonance with the history of the city and its residents. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of introducing regional material into the national art historical context and outlines prospects for further study of the paintings, including the altar apse, vaults, and the Pitirim cycle.
For citation: Mikhailova O. V. Modern view on the paintings of the upper sanctuary of the Transfiguration Cathedral in Tambov as an example of monumental painting of the second half of the 19th century. // Theological Collection of Tambov Theological Seminary, 2026, no. 3 (36), pp. 183-204. (In Russian). DOI: https://doi.org/10.51216/2687-072Х_2026_3_183-204 EDN: ZCOCCX
Received 28 March 2026.
Accepted for press 27 July 2026.
Conflict of interest: The author declares no conflict of interest.
Funding: This study received no external funding.
The content is available under a license Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
ISSN 2687-072Х
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