Thousands of tourists come to the small German town of Naumburg, located on the banks of the Saale River, in the state of Saxony-Anhaly.
It is pleasant to walk here among the confusion of old streets, sit in cozy cafes and wander through the shops, but the main attraction that attracts people here is the Gothic Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul.
The construction of the cathedral took place in the first half of the 13th century, and although the building is one of the earliest religious buildings, in general the cathedral is like a cathedral, many of which have survived in Germany. Here another feature is the sculptural framing of the cathedral. The western choir of the temple is decorated with masterfully executed twelve statues of persons who contributed funds for the construction of the temple, and among them are sculptural portraits of the rulers of the city - Margrave Ekkehard II and his young wife, Margrave Uta, whose image, like the Louvre La Gioconda, attracts the attention of all visitors.
In the Middle Ages, at the courts of kings and princes, among the knights of Germany and France, the cult of the "beautiful lady" developed. He is supported by troubadours - poets-knights, in whose songs earthly hymns of love with its sufferings and joys sounded for the first time: “I do not think that love can be divided, for if it is divided, its name should be changed” - these famous words left the troubadour Arnaut de Mareille.
Refined, refined feelings, gentle chants to the accompaniment of a lute or harp carried the listeners into the ideal world of a fairy tale. In knightly circles it has become fashionable not only to bow before the chosen one of your heart, but also to serve her. Any of the noble ladies could become this chosen one. The knight took the oath to her and served to the best of his ability all his life, which, as a rule, was too short.
The chosen one inspired him, a warrior, for deeds, for bold and courageous deeds. The knight appreciated not only strength, dexterity, fearlessness, but also the elevation of feelings, devotion to them. It is no coincidence that Margrave Eckehard is depicted as a courageous, noble knight. Intelligence and firm determination shine through in his gaze. He is the image of a medieval knight, and Uta is a "beautiful lady of the Middle Ages."
The stone statue of Uta seems to have been created by a master infinitely loyal to his chosen one. Otherwise, it is impossible to imagine why her image is so romantic. Closed lips keep the secret of her feelings, thoughts, worries. Her slightly narrowed eyes are directed into the distance, her gaze is absent-minded and thoughtful. The light falling on Uta's figure from tall windows with colored stained glass casts glare on her face, giving more and more shades of expression.
Her slender figure is hidden under heavy folds of clothes, which, falling down, seem to repeat the strict pattern of the colonnade of a Gothic temple and at the same time give the statue a touch of stately solemnity.
Promotional video:
Unfortunately, the name of the master who created the famous statue of Uta is unknown, as are the names of most of the artists who worked in the Middle Ages. Works of art from this period are most often unnamed. However, the scant information from the city archive sheds some light on the creative path of the Naumburg master.
It is established that he worked for a long time in France - in Amiens (in 1225-1230), then in Reims. After returning to Germany, he was invited to Metz and Mainz, where fragments of his sculptures have been preserved. Around 1240, the artist moved to Naumburg, where the cathedral was being built at that time. At the end of the building - this was in the late 1240s - he was apparently asked to decorate it with sculptures. He made several reliefs for the fence of the western choir, and then began to create twelve sculptural portraits of the founders of the temple.
The statue of Uta, like everyone else, is carved from a pinkish stone that still retains traces of paint. The method of painting statues in order to make them more alive and authentic has been known since ancient times. The masters of Greece and Rome did the same. The stone figure of Uta was painted like the antique statue. Her pose is natural. She stands, slightly turning to her husband, holding the collar of her cloak with her right hand. There is so much grace, femininity and charm in this gesture that there is no doubt that the artist deliberately revealed these features. Uta's left hand struggles to hold the folds of his falling cloak. Heavy matter and a small hand with thin fingers. This juxtaposition helps the master to emphasize the fragility and willpower of a woman. For him, the Margrave turned out to be the embodiment of all the feminine qualities he valued.
Thousands of tourists come to Naumburg every year, and, of course, there are many of our Russians among them. As a rule, Russians film and record a lot. One of the first admirers of Uta, the writer Daniil Granin, noted: "I stood in the cold cathedral, dying with delight, feeling happy and insignificant in front of this beauty."
