Zlatoust master Ivan Bushuev’s interpretation of constructive ornamental elements of decorated cold steel arms

Abstract

The authors examine the decorative elements of the artwork of Ivan Bushuev (1798—1835), the
famous engraver for metal. It is the saber of an arbitrary sample in the sheath that was presented to
the Emperor Alexander the First while visiting the factory for the manufacture of cold decorated steel
arms in Zlatoust in 1824. The researchers based on the stylistic element-structural method studied
the decor of the blade and sheath. As a result they came to the conclusion that Bushuev when creating
his interpretations of constructive ornamental elements (griffin, palmetta, volute, etc.), followed
in the mainstream of historical development of their artistic transformation. The outstanding master
perceived the achievements of antiquity, Roman Empire and renaissance heritage not directly, but
through following the empire style. Based on this style samples he applied creative principle that
the authors have identified as a stylistic decorative-element variation. The next level of his work is
defined as a stylistic composition-structural one. The highest level of the master’s creativity is named
as symbolic and semantic one. It provides an opportunity to open in his artwork such meanings as
Russian identity, the historical time of Alexander the First ruling, glorification of the emperor’s victories
and deeds. The master-engraver embodied the basic patriotic ideas of the Russian empire art
style through images of creative work and sublime glorification of Russia.