Nicholas Roerich

Nicholas Roerich, (October 9, 1874 - December 13, 1947) also known as Nikolai Konstantinovich Rerikh (Russian: Николай Константинович Рёрих), was a Russian painter and spiritual teacher. He was the father of Tibetologist George Roerich (a.k.a. Yuri Roerich) and artist Svetoslav Roerich. Nicholas and his wife Helena Roerich were co-founders of the theosophical Agni Yoga Society.

Born in pre-revolutionary St. Petersburg, Russia to the family of a well-to-do notary public, he lived around the world until his death in Punjab, India. Trained as an artist and a lawyer, his interests lay in literature, philosophy, archaeology and especially art.

Roerich's stage-designs for the premiere of Igor Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring, given in Paris in 1913, and based on ancient Russian motifs, were highly innovative and influential. They were an important element in the success and the scandal of this epochal musical event.

He first visited New York City in 1920. After touring the United States, he and his wife settled in the city, founding the Master Institute of the United Arts, They also joined various theosophical societies and their activities in these groups dominated their lives.

Today, the Nicholas Roerich Museum in New York City is the artistic center of Roerich's work. Numerous Rerikh societies continue to promote his theosophical teachings worldwide. His painting can be seen in several museums including the Roerich Department of the State Museum of Oriental Arts in Moscow; the Roerich Museum at the International Centre of the Roerichs in Moscow; the State Russian Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia; a collection in the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow; a collection in the Art Museum in Novosibirsk, Russia; the Roerich Hall Estate in Kullu Valley, Himachal-Pradesh (India); in various art museums in India; and a selection featuring several of his larger works in The Latvian National Museum of Art.

A recent source of information about the spiritual journeys of Nicholas and Helena Roerich is a book called "Wayfarers" by Ruth Drayer. Also see Jacqueline Decter's biography, "Messenger of Beauty"; Kenneth Archer, "Nicholas Roerich: East and West"; and scholarly articles by John McCannon, as well as his "Searching for Shambhala," in the magazine "Russian Life."

External links

Gourt Home::Gourt :: Nicholas Roerich

See also

External links