ST PETER THE METROPOLITAN, WITH LIFE SCENES

The middle part of the southern iconostasis is occupied by the icons painted specially for the new Assumption Cathedral after 1479. The icon of Metropolitan Peter with Life scenes seems to have been painted by Dionisy, the famous Russian iconographer of the second half of the 15th - early 16th century. He was the leading master in creating the cathedral iconostasis in 1481 and probably a part of ancient altar murals. He painted the paired hagiographic icons of the Moscow metropolitans Peter and Alexius for the Assumption Cathedral (the icon of Metropolitan Alexius is now kept in the State Tretyakov Gallery collection).

The serene figure of St Peter whose silhouette is outlined by smooth lines, movements subordinated to a measured rhythm, free compositions of the centrepiece and the border scenes, light transparent colours — all this creates a feeling of solemn festivity so typical for Dionisy and his circle masters.