Morava school
Encyclopedia
The Morava School or Moravska School entails the establishments of architectural style in Serbia
from 1370-1459. The churches and monasteries were built by the rulers Lazar Hrebeljanović (1370–1389), Stefan Lazarević
(1402–1427) and Đurađ Branković (1427–1456) and their nobleman. The first endowment was the royal tomb of Ravanica
. The main achievement of the Morava School is the splendor of the sculptural elements. The decorative stone plastic of the Moravska School represents one of the most original artistic achievements of medieval Serbian art. Decorative elements characteristic of this artistic school typically consist of geometric arabesque with stylized floral ornaments, which include only scarce figurative details. As fragments of the plastic decoration from the almost completely destroyed Church of Saint Steven in village Milentija
testify, this sculpture was usually painted, and thus, very vivid in effect.
of Ravanica Monastery
, built in the 1370s, may be considered the inaugural statement of this style, which drew its characteristics from Mount Athos
, from Serbian architecture itself of the 1340s and 1350s, and from other still unclear sources. The appearance of lateral apse
s along the flanks of the Ravanica church clearly suggests the growing importance of the Athonite monastic formula, juxtaposed here with the five-domed church scheme. The most perplexing aspect of this architecture however are its sculptural laments, whose sheer quantity, exuberance, and variety of motifs have defied explanations. Evident on a large number of buildings, from Lazarica
in Kruševac
to Naupara
, Rudenica, Veluce, Ljubostinja
, and Milentija, the style of decoration displays affinities with Armenia
and Georgia
, the world of Islam
, and even Venice
and the West. Its persistence into the fifteenth century, on church facades such as that of Kalenić Monastery
(built 1413-1417), reveals the vitality of this new medium, which in its later stages began to incorporate human and animal forms, often related to mythological themes presumably drawn from manuscript illuminations. In the waning years of Serbia's independence, the imminent threat of Ottoman forces prompted major efforts in fortification architecture. Nor did this security-related phenomenon bypass religious settings. The Manasija (Resava) Monastery in Serbia, for example, incorporates a system of massive walls, ten towers, and a huge dungeon, all built in 1407-1418. Endowed by the Serbian despot Stefan Lazarević, the strongly defended Manasija became not only his final resting place but also the last major center of cultural activity in Serbia before its fall to the Ottomans in 1459.
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
from 1370-1459. The churches and monasteries were built by the rulers Lazar Hrebeljanović (1370–1389), Stefan Lazarević
Stefan Lazarevic
Stefan Lazarević known also as Stevan the Tall was a Serbian Despot, ruler of the Serbian Despotate between 1389 and 1427. He was the son and heir to Prince Lazar, who died at the Battle of Kosovo against the Turks in 1389, and Princess Milica from the subordinate branch of the Nemanjić dynasty...
(1402–1427) and Đurađ Branković (1427–1456) and their nobleman. The first endowment was the royal tomb of Ravanica
Ravanica
Ravanica can refer to:* Ravanica Monastery, a monastery in Pomoravlje District, Serbia* Vrdnik-Ravanica Monastery, a monastery in Srem, Vojvodina, Serbia* Ravanica, a river in Serbia...
. The main achievement of the Morava School is the splendor of the sculptural elements. The decorative stone plastic of the Moravska School represents one of the most original artistic achievements of medieval Serbian art. Decorative elements characteristic of this artistic school typically consist of geometric arabesque with stylized floral ornaments, which include only scarce figurative details. As fragments of the plastic decoration from the almost completely destroyed Church of Saint Steven in village Milentija
Milentija
Milentija is a village in the municipality of Brus, Serbia. According to the 2002 census, the village has a population of 184 people....
testify, this sculpture was usually painted, and thus, very vivid in effect.
History
The architecture in Serbia, from about 1370 until its fall to the Ottomans in 1459, was very experimental. During this time of adverse political circumstances, a remarkable flurry of building activity took place. Labeled the "Morava School" and declared a "national style" by Gabriel Millet, it awaits a proper assessment from aesthetic and other points of view. The katholikonKatholikon
A Katholikon or Catholicon is the major temple of a monastery, or diocese in the Eastern Orthodox Church. The name derives from the fact that it is the largest temple where all gather together to celebrate the major feast days of the liturgical year. At other times, the smaller temples or...
of Ravanica Monastery
Ravanica Monastery
Ravanica is a Serbian Orthodox monastery on Kučaj mountains near Ćuprija in Central Serbia. It was built in 1375–1377 as an endowment of prince Lazar of Serbia, who is buried there....
, built in the 1370s, may be considered the inaugural statement of this style, which drew its characteristics from Mount Athos
Mount Athos
Mount Athos is a mountain and peninsula in Macedonia, Greece. A World Heritage Site, it is home to 20 Eastern Orthodox monasteries and forms a self-governed monastic state within the sovereignty of the Hellenic Republic. Spiritually, Mount Athos comes under the direct jurisdiction of the...
, from Serbian architecture itself of the 1340s and 1350s, and from other still unclear sources. The appearance of lateral apse
Apse
In architecture, the apse is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault or semi-dome...
s along the flanks of the Ravanica church clearly suggests the growing importance of the Athonite monastic formula, juxtaposed here with the five-domed church scheme. The most perplexing aspect of this architecture however are its sculptural laments, whose sheer quantity, exuberance, and variety of motifs have defied explanations. Evident on a large number of buildings, from Lazarica
Lazarica
Lazarica is a village in the municipality of Kruševac, Serbia. According to the 2002 census, the village has a population of 1521 people....
in Kruševac
Kruševac
Kruševac is a city and municipality, and the administrative center of the Rasina District, in central Serbia. According to the 2011 census, the municipality has a population of 127,429, while the town has 57,627....
to Naupara
Naupara
Naupara monastery is a Serbian Orthodox Christian monastery situated near the town of Krusevac, about 190 km from Belgrade. The original building was used as a castle, built late 14th century by Serbian Tsar Lazar. Naupara is built in the Serbian architectural style of the Morava school. It is...
, Rudenica, Veluce, Ljubostinja
Ljubostinja
Ljubostinja is a Serbian Orthodox monastery near Trstenik, Serbia. Located in the small mountain valley of the Ljubostinja river. Monastery is dedicated to the Holy Virgin. The monastery was built from the 1388 to 1405...
, and Milentija, the style of decoration displays affinities with Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
and Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
, the world of Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
, and even Venice
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
and the West. Its persistence into the fifteenth century, on church facades such as that of Kalenić Monastery
Kalenic monastery
Kalenić monastery is an important Serb Orthodox monastery near Rekovac in central Serbia. It was built by protodaviar Bogdan in the early 15th century...
(built 1413-1417), reveals the vitality of this new medium, which in its later stages began to incorporate human and animal forms, often related to mythological themes presumably drawn from manuscript illuminations. In the waning years of Serbia's independence, the imminent threat of Ottoman forces prompted major efforts in fortification architecture. Nor did this security-related phenomenon bypass religious settings. The Manasija (Resava) Monastery in Serbia, for example, incorporates a system of massive walls, ten towers, and a huge dungeon, all built in 1407-1418. Endowed by the Serbian despot Stefan Lazarević, the strongly defended Manasija became not only his final resting place but also the last major center of cultural activity in Serbia before its fall to the Ottomans in 1459.
See also
- Architecture of SerbiaArchitecture of SerbiaSerbian architecture and Architecture of Serbia refers to the architecture and styles developed in Serbia or by Serbs on the Balkan peninsula.-Antiquity:...
- Serbian Orthodox ChurchSerbian Orthodox ChurchThe Serbian Orthodox Church is one of the autocephalous Orthodox Christian churches, ranking sixth in order of seniority after Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, and Russia...
- List of Serbian Orthodox monasteries
Sources
- Slobodan Curcic: Some Uses (and Reuses) of Griffins in Late Byzantine Art. In: Byzantine East, Latin West: Art-Historical Studies in Honor of Kurt Weitzmann, edited by Christopher Moss and Katherine Kiefer, pp. 597–604. Princeton, 1995.
- Slobodan Curcic: Religious Settings of the Late Byzantine Sphere. In: Byzantium: Faith and Power (1261–1557), edited by Helen Evans (The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 2004).
- Vojislav J. Duric: La peinture murale de Resava: Ses origines et sa place dans la peinture byzantine. In: Moravska skola i njeno doba: Nauchmi skup u Resavi 1968 / L'École de la Morava et son temps: Symposium de Résava 1968, edited by Vojislav J. Duric, pp. 277–91. Belgrade, 1972.
- Helen C. Evans, ed., Byzantium: Faith and Power (1261–1557), exh. cat. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art; New Haven: Yale University Press, 2004. p. 658, 721 color ills., 146 b/w.
- Nadežda Katanić: Dekorativna kamena plastika Moravske škole. Prosveta, Republički zavod za zaštitu spomenika kulture, Beograd, 1988. ISBN 86-07-00205-8
- Tania Velmans: Infiltrations occidentales dans la peinture murale byzantine au XIVe et au début du XVe siècle. In: Moravska skola i njeno doba: Nauchmi skup u Resavi 1968 / L'École de la Morava et son temps: Symposium de Résava 1968, edited by Vojislav J. Duric, pp. 37–48. Belgrade, 1972.