ივანე ჯავახიშვილი და ქართული ხელოვნება

Abstract

It is difficult to find a field of Kartvelology to whose development Ivane Javakhishvili did not contribute. His scientific range was wide, his research interests were versatile. Among the many issues that the scientist studied, the history of Georgian art occupied an important place. The article is dedicated to the contribution of Iv. Javakhishvili to the study of the history of Georgian art. From the very first steps of his activity, he paid great attention to the issues of researching the history of Georgian material culture. In his works, he repeatedly noted the importance of national art monuments in the history of the country. Iv. Javakhishvili firmly maintained that the study of art history must follow two complementary approaches: analysis of written sources and examination of material remains.
The scientist attached special importance to identifying ancient terminology related to art in written sources and their use in the study of art monuments. The scientist continued to search for information about art monuments in Georgian and foreign sources throughout his career.
Of particular importance in the study of the history of Georgian architecture is Iv. Javakhishvili’s work “The Art of Construction in Ancient Georgia”, which is essentially a serious study of medieval Georgian architecture. The work collects ancient terms related to construction art and provides an impressive picture of the development of Georgian secular and religious architecture. The scientist sees ancient Georgian construction art on a large scale and focuses on medieval Georgian fresco art and the problems of creating a historical portrait.
The research of Iv. Javakhishvili devoted to various spheres of Georgian material culture is important; among which the research devoted to Georgian historical clothing is noteworthy, in which a completely new approach is used to this most important issue of the history of Georgian culture. The issues of the history of Georgian weapons, military equipment, furniture and utensils are also investigated. These studies are accompanied by numerous examples of old Georgian terminology.
The article discusses Iv. Javakhishvili’s contribution to the development of museum work in Georgia, his active work in the Georgian State Museum, his participation in organizing the 750^th anniversary exhibition of “The Knight in the Panther’s Skin”, and his care for the creation of ethnographic museums in various parts of Georgia.
The role of Iv. Javakhishvili in the development of Georgian archaeology, his contribution to the creation of the foundations of medieval archaeology, and his role in the work of archaeological expeditions in the Mtskheta region are emphasized.
Iv. Javakhishvili used the works of art as “historical documents”, of which we have numerous examples in his works. When discussing the successful eras of the country, he uses outstanding examples of art as illustrations.
The article particularly notes Iv. Javakhishvili’s care for the protection of art monuments, and shows the deeply understood measures for the preservation of cultural heritage. The researcher especially notes the importance of medieval Georgian historical sculpture and painting for the study of the country’s history and the necessity of their special protection. Iv. Javakhishvili’s contribution to the study of national music is also discussed.
In Iv. Javakhishvili’s works, in which he touches on a wide range of issues of the history of Georgian art, we see how a century ago the great Georgian scientist cared about problems that are still relevant for the study of art history and the development of modern art.