The artwork titled “Star of the Hero” is a creation by artist Nicholas Roerich in 1936. It is executed using tempera on canvas, measuring 92.3 cm by 122 cm. Belonging to the Symbolism art movement, the genre of this piece is landscape. The artwork is part of the collection at the Nicholas Roerich Museum in New York City, New York, United States.
In this artwork, we are invited into a nocturnal landscape dominated by the tranquil majesty of towering mountain peaks. The mountains rise steeply against a deep teal sky that transitions to a darker hue, indicative of the color gradients of the night. A vibrant comet with a vast, illuminated tail streaks across this star-studded tableau, bisecting the upper expanse of the canvas and becoming the focal point that the title references. The lower portion of the artwork reveals a silhouette of architectural structures with radiant golden hues, suggesting human habitation nestled in this serene yet imposing natural environment.
Nicholas Roerich’s use of light and shadow, combined with his distinct color palette, creates a mystical atmosphere that is characteristic of his artistic vision. The grandeur of the landscape and the presence of the dramatic cosmic event elicit a sense of awe and wonder, encapsulating themes of human spirituality and the esoteric relationships between humanity and the cosmos, core tenets of Symbolist art.
