The Wilhelm Kotarbinski’s Monumental Art in the Collection of the Khanenko Museum

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to systematize and provide the art analysis of the monumental works by Ukrainian-Polish artist Wilhelm Kotarbinski from the collection of the Khanenko Museum. The main target is to put into scientific circulation four friezes and two compositions for desudeports of the Khanenko Museum, to describe the compositions and to perform their attributive analysis. The methodology of the article is to apply general scientific and particular approaches and methods of research of the given theme, that allow to outline the time frame of creation of paintings, attribute individual plots, and find compositional prototypes. Involves the use of complex and analytical methods in systematizing and generalizing theoretical material, as well as methods of morphological, compositional, artistic, stylistic, and complex analysis when working with illustrative material. The scientific novelty of the work consists lies in an in-depth art analysis and dating of the monumental works of Wilhelm Kotarbinski from the collection of the Khanenko Museum. The specifics of the artist's artistic method on the example of his works for the Red antechamber of the Khanenko Museum are considered. The information set out in the article indicates the time frame for the creation of the entire decoration of the museum. The monumental decorative ensemble of the Red Antechamber is a striking example of the interior of "historicism", and in this context has not been considered in detail. The analysis of Kotabrinsky's compositions, their scientific attribution, the found prototypes of separate images reveals a method of work of the artist and tendencies of an epoch in fine and decorative art. Penetration into the artistic image of Kotarbinsky in the context of the era of historicism and the artistic life of the city of Kyiv brings complexity and depth to the work. Conclusions. The article summarizes the world and Ukrainian scientific experience of studying the artistic heritage by Wilhelm Kotarbinski. The following attributions have been introduced into scientific circulation: the time frame for creating the original decorative decoration of the Red Antechamber of the Khanenko Museum has been determined, iconographic prototypes for Wilhelm Kotarbinskie's frieze "Allegory of Ancient Egypt", "Allegory of the Orient Countries" have been found.