Supported by The Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation
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Supported by The Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation

Nicholas Konstantinovich Roerich

Author name
Пантелеймон Целитель
1931
tempera on canvas
44.5 × 78.7 cm
1.0084
Signatures, notes:

Подпись и дата слева внизу: монограмма / 1931

Location of the works
Nicholas Roerich Museum. New York

Roerich Museum, New York (1931); Louis & Nettie Horch col., New York (1935); Katherine Campbell col., USA (1940s); Nicholas Roerich Museum (on loan since 1949; acquisition, 1963)

The late version of the work of 1916, created, among other things, based on the experience of the expedition to Lahul. The expeditions, organized by the Urusvati Institute of Himalayan Studies, were inter alia engaged in medical research. "The Institute collected an herbarium of local medicinal herbs and preparations, which are used by local healers... The local healers were invited to participate in the research, who help in the classification and interpretation of the acquired material". Annual Report of the Urusvati Institute for 1931.

In this painting, Nikolay Roerich repeats in general terms the image of "Panteleimon the Healer" of 1916 – in the image of the Holy Elder Panteleimon and in the outline of the landscape. But the landscape reminds the previous one only by its outlines, since in the first version we see a typical northern Karelian view, whereas in 1931, there are the Himalayas before us, with a completely different palette of colors, that are warmer in the multicolored meadows, stones and the golden sky. The later image of Panteleimon is overlapped by that of Vakhramey Atamanov, whom the artist met in 1926: "But Vakhramey is not only for the cooperation, not only for stichiras. According to the covenants of the wise, he is not surprised at anything; he knows the ores; he knows also marals and bees, and the most importantly and cherished — he knows herbs and flowers... And he not only knows how flowers grow and where roots are hidden; he loves and admires them. And after having picked up a whole heap of multicolored herbs up to his gray beard, his face is enlightened, and he strokes them, affectionately telling about their usefulness. It is no more Panteley the Healer, not a dark witchcraft, but an experienced knowledge. Hello, Vakhramey Semenych! The Fiery Flow has grown for you in the Himalayas."

N. Roerich. Altai – Himalayas.

"From a young age, Saint Panteleimon had been reputed as a healer. An Ayurvedic physician leans over the useful good flowers and herbs. Each steppe blade of grass is full of ancient legends. Is it a fairy tale? What kind of fairy tale it may be, when everything is for the good."

N. Roerich "O Quanta allegria!"