The court of Prince Vladimir Galitsky (Study of scene design for "Prince Igor") 1914

This stage design by Nicholas Roerich for "Prince Igor" depicts the court of Prince Vladimir Galitsky. Here, the architecture bursts with ornamental motifs, echoing ancient Slavic pagan symbols, as seen in window carvings that recall solar signs and fertility patterns, reminiscent of those found on old ritual objects. These shapes were originally intended to ensure prosperity. Think, for example, of the recurring rosette, a symbol found across cultures from ancient Mesopotamia to Renaissance Europe, often representing the sun, divinity, or spiritual wholeness. In Roerich’s design, it's not just decoration; it’s a collective memory of humanity's earliest attempts to control its destiny by resonating with that primal, subconscious desire for safety and abundance. These are the feelings Roerich attempts to instill in the viewer. Though altered through time, the emotional core of these motifs remains, echoing through our collective unconscious.