Iconographic Program of Altar Murals in the Smolensk Cathedral of the Novodevichy Convent and Piety of the Godunov Family

The altar murals of the Smolensk Cathedral in Novodevichy Convent, commissioned during Tsar Boris Godunov's reign, reveal a strategic iconographic program aimed at legitimizing his dynasty. The study finds that these murals, particularly those in the central apse and eastern transept, form a donor-like composition featuring figures of the Godunov family—Tsaritsa Irina, her late husband Tsar Fyodor, and their deceased daughter Feodosia—venerating the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God. This composition, unique to its time, replaces traditional donor portraits, symbolizing the Godunovs' aspiration for divine validation. The murals also emphasize themes of salvation and unity with the heavenly realm, as seen in the 'Pокров Богоматери' (Theotokos of the Intercession) scene, reflecting an optimistic vision of a righteous Orthodox state under Boris's rule. Additionally, adjacent symbolic images of the Theotokos with Christ in the tomb ('Do Not Weep for Me, Mother') and the All-Seeing Savior link to the theme of resurrection, reinforcing hope for eternal life. The absence of the Last Judgment scene suggests a deliberate construction of a serene, hopeful narrative aligned with Godunov-era piety and Boris's aspirations for a peaceful reign.

Preobrazhenskii, A. S. (2023). Iconographic Program of Altar Murals in the Smolensk Cathedral of the Novodevichy Convent and Piety of the Godunov Family. Actual Problems of Theory and History of Art, 13, 348–363. https://doi.org/10.18688/aa2313-3-28