Nicholas Roerich

Nicholas Roerich (known also as Nikolai Konstantinovich Rerikh or in Russian, Никола́й Константи́нович Ре́рих) was a Russian painter, theatrical designer, and writer best known for his mystical paintings of the Himalayas.

Early years

Nicholas Konstantinovich Roerich was born on October 9, 1874 into the family of a famous lawyer. Since early childhood he took interest in history, archeology and painting.

After graduating from the gymnasium Nicholas immediately entered two universities: at the insistence of his father he entered into St. Petersburg University to study law where he also attended lectures in the history and linguistics departments, and following his own heart, he also entered into the Imperial Academy of Art. In 1895 Roerich transferred into the class of an acclaimed Russian painter and master of colorful landscapes, Arkhip Ivanovich Kyindgi. Kyindgi had a major impact on Roerich as he was the kind of teacher who gently guided his students’ own interests instead of forcing them to adhere to certain rules. Later Roerich would call his tutor not only a teacher of painting, but a great teacher of life as well.

Upon completion of the Artist’s Academy, Roerich was awarded the official title of artist for his thesis painting “Messenger” from the series “The Beginning of Russia: The Slavs.” The painting held up to the most exacting criticism and was acquired by Pavel Mikhaylovich Tretyakov for his private collection.

Also at the age of 9 years old Nicolas began an archeologist: well-known Russian archeologist Lev Ivanovsky took Nicolas with him for exscavations in the surroundings of Isvara – Roerichs’ country estate near St.Petersburg. Further Nicolas will become professional archeologist and make excavations in the North of Russia, in Novgorod, in Tibet and in Indian Himalayas. As he wrote in one of his essays, nothing but own-hands excavations and touching an ancient object can advance you to the genuine impression of the antiquity.

Nicholas Roerich found time not only for creating art – he was also a busy public figure. In 1898, at the age of 24, Nicholas Roerich became an assistant to the Director of the Imperial Society for the Encouragement of the Arts and an editor assistant for the Society`s art magazine. Starting 1902 he took part in exhibitions, organized by the magazine “Mir iskusstva”. In 1906 he became director of the School within the Imperial Society for the Encouragement of the Arts – one of the leading Russian art schools of the time. The new director thought that training artistic taste and supporting artistic individuality of the students should be the school`s main goal. He deeply believed that art should be incorporated into our daily life as much as possible.

Since 1905 the painter`s exhibitions were held in Europe at a regular basis. Prague, Paris, Berlin, Venice, Rome, Brussels and Vienna got acquainted with Roerich`s works. They were purchased by European museums. In 1909 Nicholas Roerich became a member of the Imperial Academy of Art and a member of the Academy of Reims in France.

Later years

Roerich died on December 13, 1947.

Writings

Roerich's books are listed in chronological sequence:

• The Nicolas Roerich Exhibition. New York: Redfield-Kendrick-Odell, 1920.
• Adamant. New York: Corona Mundi, 1923.
• Leaves of Morya's Garden. New York, 1923. Translated by Louis L. Horch.
• Himalaya: a Monograph. New York: Brentano's 1926. Articles by Frances R. Grant, Mary Siegrist, George Grebenstchikoff, Ivan Narodny, and "Banners of the East", by Nicholas Roerich, with 24 color-plates and 78 halftones.
• Altai--Himalaya; a Travel Diary. New York: Frederick A. Stokes Company, 1929.
• Flame in Chalice. New York: Roerich Museum Press, 1930. Songs and sagas, Book 1; translated by Mary Siegrist.
• Heart of Asia: Memoirs from the Himalayas. New York: Roerich Museum Press, 1930.
• Shambhala. New York, Frederick A. Stokes Company, 1930.
• Realm of Light. New York: Roerich Museum Press, 1931.
• Fiery Stronghold. Boston, MA: The Stratford Company, 1933.
• The Invincible. New York: Nicholas Roerich Museum, 1974. Translation of Nerushimoe, 1936.
• Himalayas: Abode of Light. Bombay: Nalanda Publications, 1947.

Museums and exhibitions

With a lifetime production of something like 81,000 paintings, it is not surprising to find that his works have been dispersed throughout the world in many museums. Several institutions are devoted entirely to Nicholas Roerich, his family, and his art:

• Nicholas Roerich Museum is a large museum in New York City. Website: http://www.roerich.org/. See also YouTube video.
• Nicholas Roerich Virtual Museum is a website of the New York museum. Website: Nicholas Roerich Virtual Museum.
• Nicholas Roerich Museum and Buddhist Art Institute in Mongolia is a restored house in which Roerichs live in 1926-27. Website: http://www.roerichmongolia.org/ . See also YouTube video.
• International Centre of the Roerichs is a large museum in Moscow. Website: http://en.icr.su/museum/. See also this YouTube video.
• Nicholas Roerich Estate Museum in St. Petersburg has a very large collection. Website: http://www.saint-petersburg.com/museums/nicholas-roerich-estate-museum/. Since 2003, the museum annually awards the Nicholas Roerich International Prize.
• Roerich Gallery in Naggar, India. For information, see : Bharata Online and Lonely Planet website.
• N.K. Roerich's Museum and the Siberian Roerich Society in Novosibirsk, Siberia.
• Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath in Bangalore, India. A new state-of-the art museum is being developed by the State of Karnataka in southwest India, displaying over 240 of the artist’s paintings, will be developed at the 456-acre Tataguni Estate of Svetoslav Roerich, the son of Nicholas Roerich. Website: http://www.karnatakachitrakalaparishath.com/parishath/roerich.html. More information: article from February 24, 2014, ‘’NavHind Times’’ article, ‘’New Indian Express’’ article, ‘’Times of India’’ article.
• Nikolay Roerich Museum in Novosibirsk, See also blog post.
• Roerich Hall Estate in the Kullu Valley of the Indian Himalayas; status is uncertain. See: International Centre of the Roerichs.

Other museums with Roerich paintings include:

• Department of the State Museum of Oriental Arts in Moscow.
• National Gallery for Foreign Art in Sofia, Bulgaria has an important collection.
• Art Museum in Nizhny Novgorod (formerly known as Gorky), Russia
• Sree Chitra Art Gallery, Thiruvananthapuram in south India. See Wikipedia article.
• Latvian National Museum of Art has several of Roerich’s larger works.
• National Museum of Serbia.
• Zanabazar National Museum in Mongolia has one painting.
• Hood Museum of Art at Dartmouth University has one painting.
• Oglethorpe University Museum of Art in Atlanta Georgia. Website: http://museum.oglethorpe.edu/.

Awards and Honors

• Peace Monuments have been dedicated to Nicholas Roerich. See: Peace Monuments web page, and Summit Lighthouse web page.

• The minor planet 4426 Roerich in our Solar System was named in honor of Roerich.

• Roerich was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1929 and 1935.

• In 2003, the St Petersburg the annual Nicholas Roerich International Prize was instituted by the Nicholas Roerich Estate Museum.

Additional resources

• Archer, Kenneth.Roerich East & West: Paintings from the Nicholas Roerich Museum. Bournemouth, England: Parkstone Press, 1999.
• Brinton, Christian. The Nicolas Roerich Exhibition: with Introduction and Catalogue of the Paintings. New York: Redfield-Kendrick-Odell, 1920.
• Decter, Jacqueline. Nicholas Roerich: the Life and Art of a Russian Master. Rochester, VT: Park Street Press, 1989.
• Drayer, Ruth. Nicholas & Helena Roerich: the Spiritual Journey of Two Great Artists and Peacemakers. Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 2005.
• Klimentieva, Victoria. Nicholas Roerich: In Search of Shambhala. Thesis at University of Texas at Austin. August 2009. Available at UT Library web page.
• Nicholas Roerich Museum. Roerich Museum, a Decade of Activity, 1921-1931. New York: Roerich Museum Press, 1931.
• Paelian, Garabed. Nicholas Roerich. Agoura, CA: Aquarian Educational Group, 1974.
• Roerich, George. Tibetan Paintings. Paris: P. Geuthner, 1925.
• Roerich, George. Trails to Inmost Asia; Five Years of Exploration with the Roerich Central Asian Expedition. London: Oxford University Press, 1931.
• Roerich Pact and Banner of Peace Committee. The Roerich Pact and the Banner of Peace. New York, 1947.
• Selivanova, Nina Nikolaevna. The World of Roerich. New York: Corona Mundi, Inc., International Art Center, 1922.
• Yeatts, Tabitha. "Nicholas Roerich" post in blog Tabitha Yeatts: The Opposite of Indifference. March 22, 2012. See blog post.
• Znamenski, Andrei A. Red Shambhala: Magic, Prophecy, and Geopolitics in the Heart of Asia. Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 2011.