Thursday, March 22, 2012

Nicholas Roerich

Roerich Pact Banner, also known as the Banner of Peace or Pax Cultura

The treaty has for its object the protection of historic monuments, museums, scientific, artistic, educational, and cultural institutions both in time of peace and in time of war, and provides for the use of a distinctive flag to identify the monuments and institutions coming within the protection of the treaty.
~ From a statement on The Roerich Treaty, as ratified in 1935 by the U.S., Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela


Russian artist Nicholas Roerich (1874-1947) was a prolific painter, writer, and philosopher. He originated the modern movement for the defense of cultural objects and earned several nominations for the Nobel Prize. Roerich was given awards in France, Sweden, Russia, and Yugoslavia. He loved to travel and became a member of many organizations in other countries. For instance, Roerich joined the Mark Twain Society in the U.S.!

The Banner of Peace continues to be used and has even flown over the North and South Poles and been sent into orbit.

She Who Leads
by Nicholas Roerich

Visitors from over the sea
by Nicholas Roerich

Patrol of the Himalayas
by Nicholas Roerich

Boyan
by Nicholas Roerich

Yard of Castle
by Nicholas Roerich

Language of Bird
by Nicholas Roerich

Sage
by Nicholas Roerich


Links:

* A biography of Nicholas Roerich
* A bit more about the Banner for Peace
* A planet is named for Roerich
* Roerich's paintings (some of them, anyway)
* Roerich was a set/costume designer as well and he created set designs for Borodin's Prince Igor

2 comments:

M Pax said...

A great movement and treaty. Fantastic art, too.

HWY said...

Roerich deserved the Nobel Prize for his efforts; sorry it didn't work out for him. It is a grand idea.

His work certainly is varied and interesting.

His Patrol of the Himalayas has wonderful interaction. But I must say that Sage is fantastic!