Nicholas Roerich

“Come, follow me, and I will send you out to fish for people” (Matthew 4:18-22). One of the six works in the Sancta series is based on the gospel parable of Jesus and the fishermen. From the muddy waves of the sea of life, the good Fishermen strive to save and return drowning souls to the Light.

Mystic philosopher, traveller, archaeologist, writer, author of the Pact for the Protection of Culture (which formed the basis for the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage), founder of the philosophical doctrine ‘Living Ethics’ (on internal transformation and mastery of cosmic energy) – the scale of activity of Nicholas Roerich (1874-1947) was akin to the titans of the Renaissance. Roerich as an artist combined realism and symbolism, paying great attention to colour. He almost completely abandoned oil for tempera, experimented with the composition of paints and used tonal superimpositions. The resulting style was innovative, original and unique.

And We Continue Fishing dates to the artist’s triumphant three-year tour of the Americas, yielding exhibitions in 30 cities and the series of paintings ‘New Mexico’, ‘Ocean Suite’, ‘Dreams of Wisdom’, and ‘Sancta’ with its six works on the lives of Russian saints and ascetics.