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Pure Soul. 1820s–1830s
Unknown Artist
Painted chisel etching
И.: 37,3 х 29,5; л.: 43,5 х 35,5; д.: 39 х 31
State Russian Museum
Annotation
The parable of the righteous soul probably goes back to one of the Patericons. The pure soul is in the image of the Virgin dressed in her robes, pouring water made of tears onto the flames of sin. At her feet are a bound lion (anger) and a snake tamed with humbleless (sin). In the cave there is a naked figure, the soul of a sinner. A lack of clothing was associated with the absence of an acquittal at the Last Judgement. The subject was frequently used in wall paintings and icons of the late 17th century. The first woodcut was printed in Kiev in 1627. It appeared on engravings in the mid-18th century, and by the end of the century it was common in Old Believers’ drawn luboks. The original for this lubok was a painting from the late 18th century. Icons and luboks of “Pure Soul” were a frequently venerated image of the Virgin Mary among the people.