The artwork titled “Dejection of Noah from Mount Ararat” is a captivating oil on canvas painting by the renowned artist Ivan Aivazovsky, created in the year 1889. Embodying the emotional depth and grandeur characteristic of the Romanticism movement, this religious painting measures 130 x 215 cm and vividly portrays a biblical theme. It is presently housed at the National Gallery of Armenia, located in Yerevan, Armenia.
In the artwork, we observe a serene and expansive landscape dominated by the towering presence of Mount Ararat in the background, which under the soft luminosity of the sky, seems almost ethereal. The foreground features Noah and his company, depicted as small figures emanating a sense of weariness and contemplation as they depart from the mountain. This departure symbolizes the aftereffects of the biblical deluge, with Noah’s ark presumably resting out of view after completing its divine purpose.
The expanse between the figures and the mountain serves to emphasize the grand scale of nature in relation to humanity, a theme commonly explored in Romantic art. Additionally, the painter’s adept use of light creates an atmospheric quality, enhancing the spiritual and emotional significance of the scene. Through subtle gradations of color and the careful rendering of light and shadow, Aivazovsky engenders a nearly palpable sense of the sublime, inviting viewers to reflect on the themes of divine intervention, human struggle, and the awe-inspiring power of the natural world.
