“The saints have gone – leave Gleb as keeper” is an evocative religious painting by the artist Nicholas Roerich, created in 1920 using tempera on canvas. This artwork, associated with the Art Nouveau (Modern) and Symbolism movements, measures 91.4 by 91.4 cm and is housed in the Oglethorpe University Museum of Art, Atlanta, GA, US.
The artwork portrays a celestial and terrestrial scene, divided by a dramatic contrast of light and color. At the forefront stands a fortified red gate with intricate designs, guarded by Saint Gleb, who is depicted in a vigilant and protective stance with a spear and shield. Behind him, sprawling city structures with ornate domes and towers rise under a night sky, giving a sense of spiritual and architectural grandeur. Above the city, a host of saints are depicted in luminous hues, seated atop a splendid cloud, suggesting a divine presence overseeing the earthly domain. The rich use of reds and blacks creates a stark contrast, enhancing the vividness of both the divine realm above and the earthly city below. This deeply symbolic representation underscores themes of guardianship, divinity, and the blending of the celestial with the terrestrial.
