EXHIBITION "CHRISTIANITY IN LITHUANIAN ART"
(28 December, 1999 – 31 December, 2003)

FOLK ART

Marija Kuodiene

    Christianity has come to be the dominating factor in the spiritual life of Lithuanian nation. Integrated into the ethos and lifestyle of Lithuanian nation Christian culture with the diversity of its forms was shaping the parameters of nation’s existence. Lithuanian folk art - sculpture, painting and printing - was under the heavy impact of the European Christian tradition fostered in churches and monastaries. The start and development of Lithuanian folk art covers the period from the 17th century to the 1st half of the 19th century.
Memorial markers is a significant part of the cultural heritage of rural Lithuania. These are wooden shrines, crosses, pillar-type crosses and pillar-type chapels located nearby homesteads, in cemetries, on waysides and in fields. Pillar-type crosses and wooden shrines were more popular in Samogitia while in Aukštaitija tall pillar-type crosses were more common.
The present exhibition displays a typical pillar - type cross artistically wood - carved in geometric patterns and decorated with figures of saints. It dates back to 1842 and was originally located in Zarasai vicinity. In the 2nd half of the 19th century Vincas Svirskis folk wood carver (1835 - 1916) was known for his gigantic oak crosses. Vincas Svirskis has carved over 250 memorial markers located in the vicinities of Kedainiai, Surviliškiai, Krakiai, Truskava.
Lithuanian Art Museum houses 20 of his carved crosses. Vincas Svirskis was an exceptionally gifted craftsman displaying a vivid impact of the Baroque style. His complex low-relief pieces, such as The Last Supper, St. Isidor, Baptism of Christ, Pietà reflect the impact of the Baroque style dominant in folk art of the period. Drawings by Kazys Šimonis (1887 - 1978) demonstrate a large variety of religiuos markers. His drawings become an artistic metaphor of the Lithuanian countryside scene of the 2nd and 3nd decades of the19th century.
Wooden folk sculpture is the most unique and stylistically rich offspring of Lithuanian folk art. The characteristic iconographic motives of folk wooden sculpture cover the lives of the Virgin, Christ and Christian saints. The most common motives are: The Virgin of the Immaculate Conception, The Virgin of Sorrows (Mater Dolorosa), Christ of Nazareth, the Pensive Christ and some others. St.George slaying the dragon is the most popular iconographic motive exploited in numerous wooden sculptural pieces. St.George is portrayed as a warrier on a horseback slaying a dragon. The figure of St.Geoge is the metaphor of Christianity promoter, guardian of cattle and protector from the evil. The figure of St. Florian, often carved with a pile in his hand, protects the homestead of farmer from fire. Often wooden shrines with the figures of St.John of Nepomuk, St.John the Baptist were located nearby water sources.
Wooden figures of saints were carved by Dievdirbiai or god-carvers were uneducated folk craftsmen. Carved out of linden wood, occasionally oak, with the help of basic tools, the figures of saints were afterwards treated by polychromic techniques. Alongside with three dimensional scuplture low-relief and high-relief were also cultivated. Lithuanian wooden sculpture is characterized by simplistic generalized forms,volume balance, contrasting arrangement of colours, psychological and emotional qualities.
Primitivistic paintings by unknown artists would decorate the altars of rural churches, of portable church altars, processional banners, dwellings and barns of farmers. The 14 Stations of the Cross is the most common iconographic theme exploited while decorating church interiors, wooden shrines located in churchyards or in fields. The Stations of the Cross of Paskarbiskes Church (Šilale region) dating back to the middle of the 19th century is characterized by primitive drawing technique, contrasting colours, psychological expressiveness. The most ancient paintings on wood board (by unknown artist date back to 19th century. Of mention is the altar antependium tryptich St.Francis nurtured by Angels and four paintings of altar wings: St.Michael Archangel, St.Catherine, St.Andrew, St. Agatha.
The 19th century saw the spread of wood carving, an abundance of which is located in the West of Lithuania: Salantai, Darbenai, Kretinga,Varniai. Steponas Kuneika was a famous folk wood carver who cultivated the popular interpretation of the Baroque art tradition in his Lamentation over Christ. Aleksandras Vinkus (1832 - 1912) from Darbenai was know for his colourful wood carvings of primitive stylistic expression, monumental and decorative; these are: Adam and Eve, St. George, The Virgin of the Gates of Dawn, The Last Judgement, The Commemoration of Abstinence Introduction.
Exhibits for Christianity in Lithuanian Art were collected from national museums all over Lithuania: Šiauliai Aušra Museum contributed the most of paintings. Two sculptural pieces The Holy Family and The Baptism of Christ were relocated from National M.K.Ciulionis Art Museum. In 1925 The Baptism of Christ was exhibited in the 2nd Internation Exposition of Decorative Art in Italy. Italian art commentator Luigi Kalji expressed his appreciation of Lithuanian crosses: Spontaneous inspiration and clarity of emotions of uneducated Northern sculptors continue to be the source of interest even for contemporary artists.
The comments made by the famous Italian art critic retain their validity even in the millenium to come.

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     Page updated 2006.03.28