The artwork titled “Kovno. Castle of crusaders,” created by Nicholas Roerich in 1903, belongs to the Art Nouveau movement, also known as Modern. It falls under the cityscape genre and is part of a collection named “Sketches from travels in old Russian cities.”
The artwork depicts a segment of a historic castle, characterized by red brick walls and a prominent cylindrical tower crowned with a conical roof. The tower is embellished with decorative elements and small windows, highlighting the architectural details of the structure. The roof and walls exhibit a textured, almost impasto quality, capturing the tactile essence of the ancient masonry. The backdrop is minimally detailed, allowing the castle to remain the focal point of the composition, eliciting a sense of historical significance and timelessness.
