The artwork titled “Compassion,” created by Nicholas Roerich in 1936, is executed on canvas using tempera. This piece, which falls within the Symbolism movement and is categorized as a genre painting, measures 61.5 by 92.5 centimeters. It is housed at the Latvian National Museum of Art, located in Riga, Latvia.
The artwork depicts a dramatic and serene landscape dominated by majestic snow-capped mountains under a vibrant, twilight sky filled with clouds tinged in hues of violet and pink. In the foreground, a central figure, dressed in traditional attire, tenderly holds a distressed animal, possibly a small dog or another domesticated creature, emitting a potent message of empathy and kindness amidst the rugged terrain. Another figure is present in the scene, positioned further back and also clad in traditional clothing, depicted against the vast, expansive backdrop of mountain ranges and valleys cloaked in deep, rich colors. The juxtaposition of human care and the imposing, serene nature encapsulates the symbolic essence of the painting.
