Georgian art

The oldest art objects from the heritage of the peoples who inhabited the present territory of Georgia, come from prehistoric times. It objects of material culture have been found from the Paleolithic and Neolithic. The works from the Bronze Age testify to the high culture of former residents of Georgia. In the grave hills were, inter alia, richly decorated silver vessels found. The Stylistics indicates influences of Urartu culture.

From the Hellenistic period derived works of art with rich Flechtwerkornament with stylized animal figures. The gold treasure from Akhalgori dates from the 5th century AD

In the first half of the 4th century Christianity was declared the state religion. It emerged first churches, as a central domed or three-aisled basilicas elongated with a dome over the crossing, which had a resemblance to the early Romanesque churches of Western Europe. The figural reliefs and stone Flechtwerkornamente prove the capabilities of the then stonemasons. In the apse semi-domes appeared mosaics.

In the 10th century the influence of Arabic and Persian culture is visible, especially in the style of the miniatures of manuscripts. The fresco painting developed under the influence of Byzantium. The Georgian goldsmiths richly decorated ritual objects, including Reliquaries and crucifixes. The envelopes of the prayer books were provided with cladding embossed silver plate. As a valuable work of art of this kind shall be the book cover of Berder Gospels - work of Beschken and Beka Opizari. An important role was played by the art of enamel cells ( cloisonné ). The technique has been in the creation of Marientriptychons from Khakhuli application.

Simultaneously with the growth of the Georgian monarchy refined the art of Georgia, to the peak in the 12th and 13th centuries, from the 17th century to the decline of the Georgian state started - and the Georgian art. European influences are noticeable.

The Russian influences in the 19th century caused a shift away from the national traditions. The Georgian artists attended the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts. The bourgeoisie took a liking to the European academic art.

Even the naive painter Niko Pirosmanashvili (1860-1918) had his pictures for the taste of uneducated customers - business and restaurant owners - create; nevertheless important works of art emerged from his hand.

In Soviet times, the Georgian artists have avoided it, to follow the rules of the so-called Socialist Realism. The Georgian art of this period used the monumentality instead of the conventional academicism. At that time, the friction work in the copper plate - the so-called Tschekanka - rediscovered by the artists according to the ancient models and enjoyed great popularity.