Lecture 4 Ukrainian Culture in the late 14 th – the first half of the 17 th centuries (Lithuanian-Polish Period) Lecturer Galyna Miasoid
Plan 1. Characteristics of Ukrainian culture of Lithuanian-Polish Period. 2. Development of education and scientific knowledge. 3. Book-printing and literature. 4. Polemic literature. Chronicles. Oral folk creativity. 5. Visual arts. Icon-painting. Portrait painting. 6. Architecture. 7. Music culture and performing arts.
Renaissance as a characteristic feature of Ukrainian culture n n n n Strongly pronounced anthropocentrism of the day; Humanism ideas development; School system development; Book-printing development; Development of folklore, based on the folklore traditions of Old Rus; Architecture and fine arts development, based on traditions of Old Rus and having vivid national peculiarities; Secular plot appearance in art and architecture; Sculpture and architecture development as decorative elements, and for memorial tombstones of prominent Polish noblemen, Catholic and Orthodox Christians.
Education n n Ostroh School, founded in 1576. a Slavonic-Greek-Latin school of highest level The “seven free arts” were taught there: grammar, rhetoric, dialectic, arithmetic, geometry, music and astronomy. “Slavonic grammar” by Meletiy Smotryt’skyi, 1619
Education n n The first brotherhood school, which received international recognition, was opened in Lviv in 1576. The curriculum included the study of subjects of classical trivium and quadrium: grammar, logics, rhetoric, dialectics, reading, writing, the Holy Scripture and music. Church singing and arithmetic were optional subjects. Language studies were a specialty: Greek was spoken and written, the Slavonic, Latin and Polish languages were compulsory subjects.
Brotherhood School in Kiev n n n Established in 1615. Later transformed into Kiev-Mohyla Collegium (1632), and then into Kyiv-Mohyla Academy (1701).
Humanism principle n n Pedagogic principles of Brotherhood schools were based on humanism. In the Statute of Lviv brotherhood school (1586) there was a principle of value of each person in spite of his origin or wealth. The best pupils (even if they were poor) occupied the best places in lecture rooms. Respect of human dignity was one of the most important points of a teacher’s practice.
Jesuit schools n n n The main aim of Jesuits was strengthening of Catholic Church position, activation of its expansion to the East by the way of ideological influence on people by means of school education. Founded in Yaroslav (1575), in Lviv and Luts’k (1608), Kyiv (1615), Kamyanets’-Podils’kyi and Ostroh (1624), Uzhhorod (1646) and other towns. After graduation the former students had to discuss with Protestants and Orthodox believers, enlisting them to Catholic Church.
The school of Kyiv Epiphany Brotherhood n n n Founded in 1615. Its founders: Yov Borets’kyi, Yelysei (Olexander) Pletenets’kyi (1554 -1624), Taras Zemka (1582 -1632) and Zahariya Kopystens’kyi (? -1627) Consisted of one elementary school (so called “phara”), and 3 humanitarian schools (“infima”, grammar and “syntaksyma”).
Literature and Book-printing • Books of the period are divided into handwritten and printed. • The unique editions of the day include those, which have only few printed pages, or some pages are hand-written and pasted into the books. It took a scriber a day to write or rewrite 2 or 4 pages. n New Testament. Late 16 th century. Historical Museum of Lviv
“Kyivskiy Psaltyr”, or “the Kyiv Book of Psalms” (1397) n n n one of the widely-known hand-written monuments of the late 14 th century; was re-written (translated from the Constantinople manuscript of the 11 th century) by clerk Spiridona of Kyiv. “The Kyiv Book of Psalms” contents 229 pergameneous pages and is illustrated with 300 marginal miniature paintings.
“Peresopnits’ke Evangelie” or “Peresopnits’ke Gospel” n a great handwritten monument of the Old. Ukrainian language and art of the 16 th century. Original manuscript, 1556 -1561.
“Peresopnits’ke Evangelie” or “Peresopnits’ke Gospel”. n n n In the manuscript there were phonetic, grammar and lexical features of folk Ukrainian language of the 16 th century. The text of this Gospel was written by calligraphic handwriting. A national Holy Book. Now it is a symbol of our statehood, and the President swears on loyalty to Ukraine and Ukrainian people on it during the inauguration ceremony. Facsimile copy
Book Printing n n the first pressman Ivan Fedorov (about 15251583) He founded the first Ukrainian printing press Lviv in 1573. In 1574, at Lviv monastery of St. Onuphriy he prepared the 2 nd edition of “The Apostle”. It was of great historical value as the first book printed in Ukraine. I. Fedorov moved from Lviv to Ostroh (1575)
Ostroh printing press n n The scientific and educational centre of that period, founded by Kostyantyn (Basil) Ostroz’kyi. I. Fedorov printed “The Alphabet” with grammar for pupils of Ostroh School in 1578. It was the first East-Slavonic printed alphabet of the Slavonic language.
Kyiv-Pechers’k Laura printing press n Yelysei Pletenets’kyi, an archimandrite of the Kyiv-Pechers’k Laura, was the most famous Ukrainian cultural public figure of the early 17 th century. He founded the first printing press in the monastery (1615) and a big paper manufacture in Radomyshl’.
“The Lexicon Sloveno-Russian or the interpretation of names” n In 1627 the printing press of Kyiv-Pechers’k monastery published the fundamental Slavonic. Ukrainian dictionary “The Sloveno-Russian Lexicon or the interpretation of names”. It was used in school education. Lexicon contents 6, 982 definitions with the translation and interpretation in the Ukrainian literary language. Pamva (Pavlo) Berynda was the editor of this dictionary.
Types of writing: 1. 2. n n Block-lettering – a geometrical type, resembling modern typing and Half-running hand, which differed from blocklettering by numerous abbreviations. The ornate cursive writing, or cursive writing of uncial appeared in the 15 th century and is considered to be the last and the most developed Old-Rus Cyrillic script, or alphabet. The initial letter was written big and with ornaments. Coma and dot with coma appeared in the 15 th century. The latter was also used as a question mark.
Polemic Literature n n n Played an important role in the struggle of Ukrainians for social and national liberation. Heated debate between the Catholic and Orthodox believers peaked, when the Union of Brest was under discussion in 1596. Polemic writers asserted the rights of Ukrainians to have their own faith, language and culture
Herasym and Meletiy Smotryts’ki n Book “Threnos” by Meletiy Smotryts’kyi (1610) persuades that nobility betrayed the Orthodox faith by converting to Catholicism.
Petro Mohyla n n The author of several ecclesiastic and polemic books. He understood that poor education results in lack of faith. Thanks to Petro Mogyla educational and political activity, Ukraine became the part of Europe without adoption of Catholic dogmas and had not lost its national identity.
Polonization n n In the early 17 th century Polonization of nobility spread over the Ukrainian territory. Polonization is a specific term for policy of Polish government in Ukrainian lands. During the realization of this policy Polish was the official language and was obligatory at schools and in all spheres of social life. People, who spoke Polish, backslided from Orthodox religion and converted to Catholicism, could get to the top of political elite. In 1612 Ostroz’ka printing press stopped to exist.
Ivan Vyshens’kyi n n n Wrote about 20 polemic works. Defended the traditional Orthodox doctrine. Engaged the propaganda for natural equality of people, collectivism, offered the socialization of property, etc. Considered that the ideal social organization should be built on the principles of early Christianity. Supported church-scholastic upbringing and was against a system of secular education.
Chronicles n n n “Hustyn Chronicle” was compiled by Zakhariya Kopystens’kyi in 1623 -1627. The chronicle describes events from the time of Kyiv Rus’ up to the late 16 th century in the context of world history. There were many literary inserts, focussed on writing development, the Rus’ name origin, Cossack State formation, heathen faith preservation in ritual culture of Ukrainians.
Oral Folk Creativity Formation in 15 th-17 th centuries n n n Historical songs and Dumas appeared at the time, when Ukrainian people struggled against Polish and Turkish-Tatar aggression. Historical songs and Dumas had a very specific ideological subtext and formed moral and patriotic codes (Dumas about Olexiy Popovych, Samiylo Kishka, Ivas’ Kononovchenko, and Marusya Bogyslavka are the samples). “Song of Baida” was the original one of popular poetry of the mid-to-late 16 th century. It dwells upon the execution of the prominent Cossack leader Dmytro Vyshnevets’kyi.
Visual Arts n n Visual arts of this period advanced dramatically. Monumental painting masterpieces of the 14 th-the early 16 th century were mostly devoted to religious themes, but folk and secular motifs are frequent in wall-painting of the day.
Icon-painting Patron saints were the most popular among icon images, but the manner of execution deviates from Byzantine traditions and becomes enriched with: n everyday life scenes, n real world and human beauty, n folk art elements. Miracle-working icon “the Old Testament Trinity” by Fedusko of Sambor, 16 th century
“George the Victory-bearer” (14 th century) n n n The icon from Stanyl’ village near Drogobych, is exhibited in Lviv Museum of Ukrainian Art as a pearl of Galych school of iconpainting. Traditional motives appeared in themes depicted in the 14 th century. Paintings about Yuri, the snake killer and about Armageddon were the most popular.
Characteristic Features of the Ukrainian Icons of the 15 th century n n Laconism, integrity of composition, colour restraint, ability to unite contrast colors and meaningfulness of a symbol image. These features were later inherited by Ukrainian visual art tradition.
Renaissance Style Portrait n Stefan Batory, the King of Poland, Great King of Lithuania, Great King of Rus, Lord of Rus, by Lviv master Stefanovych (1576)
Portrait Painting Gains the lead in the late 16 th century. The most famous are the portraits executed in Renaissance style: n the images of Stefan Batory (1576), n portraits of vaivode (commander of an army) Ivan Danilivych (1620) and of n noble citizens Konstantin and Alexander Kornyastovs (20 -30 th of the 17 th century). n
Architecture n n Lutsk, Kremenchug and Khotyn stone castles – the second half of the 13 th century. A new style in church architecture, a mix of Byzantine-Rus and Gothic styles. Buildings built of stone because of a difficult military situation in Ukrainian lands (late 14 th century). Architectural monuments: fortresses, castles and church buildings.
The Ukrainian Style Formation in Architecture Compiled Renaissance style and folk style, characteristic of the previously wood building. It is especially apparent in cathedral and castle constructions.
Castles and Fortresses n Terebovlya Castle (1360). The tower ruins
Kamianets-Podilskyi
The Khotyn Fortess
Palanok Castle, 14 -17 centuries A historic castle in the city of Mukacheve in the western Ukrainian Zakarpattia region
Palanok Сastle in Mukacheve n Originalypreserved corner tower
Late Renaissance style n n Got its greatest development in the architecture of the second half of the 16 th – early 17 th centuries. The most famous constructions of the day are architectural monuments of Lviv “High Castle”, the Hepner house "Chorna Kamyanytsia" (the Black House) (1570), the architectural complex of the Church of the Assumption (1591 -1629), which includes Kornyakta tower (1572 -1578) and the Chapel of Three Sanctifiers, Kornyakt Palace with the Italian yard, etc.
The Black House n in Ukrainian: Chorna Kamyanytsia, is a remarkable Renaissance building on the Market Square in the city of Lviv, Ukraine, 1588 -1589. The most decorated building in the square.
Kornyakt Palace Lviv, Ukraine
The Italian yard of Kornyakt Palace Built in the style of Italian palazzo (the Renaissance yard of King Jan III Sobieski House), Lviv
Architectural Complex of the Church of the Assumption n 15911629, Lviv
Kornyakta tower (1572 -1578) A part of an architectural complex of the Church of the Assumption 15911629 in Lviv
The Chapel of Three Sanctifiers of the Church of the Assumption The best of the Renaissance style architecture, the 16 th-17 th century
Music Culture and Performing Arts n n Musicians, singers and dancers united around monasteries and Episcopal chairs. Genres of family and household ritual songs evolved along with calendar songs.
Kobzars of Ukraine
New Genres of Secular Music n n n Household song of the three-part ensemble or choir (canticle, i. e. the church song), Solo song with accompaniment and Guild instrumental music.
Canticles (church songs) n n Religious, Philosophical, Love, Playfully humorous.
Instrumental Music n n n Led to the emergence of music guilds; Contributed to the development of professional folk instrumental music; Stimulated the emergence of distinct groups of Ukrainian national instruments.
Theatre art n n n Sprang from folk games of Kyiv Rus – folk art with elements of folk drama, pantomime, and ballet. 1573 – a starting point for the Puppet Theatre development. Last quarter of the 16 th century – School Theatre arose and developed simultaneously with the National Theatre. First decade of the 17 th century Ukrainian Play of Manners (everyday-life drama) emerged. The “Rus’ Tragedy” publication.
Seminar on theme 4 Ukrainian Culture in the late 14 th – the first half of the 17 th centuries (Lithuanian-Polish Period) 1. Characteristics of Ukrainian culture of Lithuanian-Polish Period. 2. Development of education and scientific knowledge. 3. Book-printing and literature. 4. Polemic literature. Chronicles. Oral folk creativity. 5. Visual arts. Icon-painting. Portrait painting. 6. Architecture. 7. Music culture and performing arts.
Individual task Prepare a Power Point presentation on either of the questions of seminar 4, theme “Ukrainian Culture in the late 14 th – the first half of the 17 th centuries (Lithuanian-Polish Period)” n
n Thank you for your attention!