Andrei Rublev

About museum

The life and work of Andrei Rublev, one of the greatest icon painters of Rus', are shrouded in mystery. The exact date and place of his birth are unknown, as are the details of his life before taking monastic vows. He likely trained with leading Byzantine masters, possibly outside Rus', as evidenced by the high quality of his early works. The first documentary mention of him as a monk appears in the Trinity Chronicle (1405) and indicates that he took the tonsure at a mature age (30–35 years) and was already living in Moscow. In 1405 he took part in the decoration of the Church of the Annunciation together with the more experienced Theophanes the Greek and Prokhor of Gorodets. Although many works are attributed to him, only the frescoes in Vladimir (1408), the icon 'Trinity', and the partially preserved frescoes of the Spassky (Savior) Cathedral (1420s) are documented. Distinguishing the works of Rublev and his teacher Daniil remains a difficult task. Despite the scarcity of biographical data, his works are the main source of information about the personality and art of this outstanding master.