YEGHISHE TADEVOSYAN (1870-1936)
Mount Aragats (4,090 m -13,420 ft)
Armenia
In Mount Aragats, 1917, Fabric, oil paint, 54 x 76cm, National Gallery of Armenia
The mountain
Mount Aragats (4,090 m -13,420 ft) in Armenian: Արագած, is an isolated four-peaked volcano massif in Armenia. Its northern summit, above sea level, is the highest point of the Lesser Caucasus and Armenia. It is also one of the highest points in the Armenian Highlands. Situated 40 kilometers (25 mi) northwest of Armenian capital Yerevan, Aragats is a large volcano with numerous fissure vents and adventive cones. Numerous large lava flows descend from the volcano and are constrained in age between middle Pleistocene and 3,000 BCE. The summit crater is cut by a 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) long line of cones which generated possibly Holocene-age lahars and lava flows. The volcanic system covers an area of 5,000 km2 and is one of the largest in the region. The magmas feeding Aragats are unusually hot for arc-derived magmas, resulting in long and voluminous lava flows.
The Aragats massif is surrounded by Kasagh River on the east, Akhurian River on the west, Ararat plain on the south and Shirak plain on the north.
According to an ancient Armenian legend, Aragats and Mount Ararat were loving sisters who parted after a quarrel and separated permanently. Currently, the mountains are further separated politically, with Mount Ararat being located in Turkey.
Another legend tells that Gregory the Illuminator, who converted Armenia into Christianity in the early 4th century, "used to pray on the peak of the mountain. At nighttime an icon-lamp shone to give light for him, the lamp hanging from heaven using no rope. Some say that the icon-lamp is still there, but only the worthy ones can see it."
Mt. Aragats plays a special role in Armenian history and culture. Along with Ararat, it is considered a sacred mountain for the Armenians.
Aragats is a male first name in Armenia, used especially in areas surrounding the mountain.
Mt. Aragats is often associated with Gyumri, Armenia's second largest city. The mountain is depicted on the coat of arms of Gyumri. It is also depicted on the obverse side of the 10,000 Armenian dram banknote (in use since 2003) in the background of Avetik Isahakyan, a poet born in Gyumri.
Yeghishe Martirosi Tadevosyan ( Եղիշե Թադևոսյան) was an Armenian painter associated with the Peredvizhniki and Mir Iskusstva movements. He was awarded the title of "Honored Artist" by the Armenian SSR in 1935. He studied at the Lazarian School, then entered the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture. Vasily Polenov was his teacher and friend. He graduated in 1894 and began participating in exhibitions by the Peredvizhniki shortly after.
In 1898, he travelled to Palestine with Polenov and would revisit the Middle East several times. In 1901, he moved from Moscow to Tbilisi and became an art teacher.
His early work had been influenced by Vardges Sureniants but, after this time, he began to employ impressionistic and pointillistic techniques. In 1916, he became the founder and head of the Union of Armenian Artists. Yeghishe Tadevosyan is buried at Komitas Pantheon which is located in the city center of Yerevan. A street in Yerevan and an Art school in Etchmiadzin are named after him.
In 1898, he travelled to Palestine with Polenov and would revisit the Middle East several times. In 1901, he moved from Moscow to Tbilisi and became an art teacher.
His early work had been influenced by Vardges Sureniants but, after this time, he began to employ impressionistic and pointillistic techniques. In 1916, he became the founder and head of the Union of Armenian Artists. Yeghishe Tadevosyan is buried at Komitas Pantheon which is located in the city center of Yerevan. A street in Yerevan and an Art school in Etchmiadzin are named after him.
_______________________________
2019 - Wandering Vertexes...
by Francis Rousseau
