“Sanctuaries and Citadels,” created by Nicholas Roerich in 1925, is a tempera painting on canvas that belongs to the Symbolism art movement. This landscape genre work is part of the artist’s “Sanctuaries and Citadels” series. The artwork portrays a rugged, mountainous landscape with a subdued, earthy palette dominating the composition. The scene exudes a sense of mysticism and serenity, characteristic of Roerich’s symbolic approach to art. The craggy terrain is rendered with great detail, with a meandering river cutting through the hills, creating a harmonious balance between the natural citadels and the sanctuaries nestled within them. The overall atmosphere evokes contemplation and reverence for nature’s grandeur and the historic structures that blend seamlessly into the rugged environment.
