White Mountain Education Association, Inc.

A hybrid solar eclipse will occur next week. How does it happen and why is it so rare? Thousands of people are flocking to Exmouth in Western Australia this month hoping to catch a solar eclipse. So what are solar eclipses, and how much will the rest of Australia see?

Yesterday, we looked at one of Roerich’s paintings that blurred the line between man-made structures and the natural landscape. Today, we’re featuring a painting that blurs the line between human figure and natural landscape. “Bridge of Glory” (1923) depicts Saint Sergius in front of the Northern Lights that illuminate the night sky.

This is one of several paintings Roerich made that feature Saint Sergius, though here the saint is at his most stylized. Saint Sergius appears to be almost transparent as he blends into the blue-toned landscape.

Please go to roerich.org if you’re interesting in buying a print of this painting in our online gift shop.

Roerich’s “Path to Tibet” (1925) depicts Leh, the capital of Ladakh, a region in Northern India. Leh literally means "land of high passes.”

In this painting, Roerich blurs the boundaries between man-made and natural structures. In the distance, the blue and purple toned rocks transition almost imperceptibly into a fortress. In the foreground, the buildings that are touched by the sun seem to disappear at their edges, fading into blue rocks.
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If you’d like to see this and other paintings from our collection, please go to roerich.org, where you can browse our online catalogue.

The title of Roerich’s “Drops of Life” (1924) echoes the Buddhist saying that a vessel fills with water drop by drop, like the mind fills with wisdom. The figure here is reminiscent of the Ajanta frescos, found on 30 rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments in Maharashtra, India.

1924 was a productive year for Roerich and a turning point in his career. He spent the first nine months living in Darjeeling, India while traveling and painting throughout the region. During this time, he became increasingly fascinated by India’s spiritual traditions, which shaped his painting style and choice of subject matter.

Please go to roerich.org if you’re interested in buying a print of this painting.

Ever wonder what the symbol of the three dots means? It appears in this painting, “Madonna Oriflamma” (1932) and as the symbol for the Roerich Pact and Banner of Peace. Roerich has a succinct explanation that can be found in our newest addition to the Collected Writings series, “Diary Leaves":

“This sign of the triad, which is to be found all over the world, may have several meanings. Some interpret it as a symbol of the past, present, and future enclosed in the ring of eternity. Others consider that it refers to religion, science, and art held together in the circle of culture. But whatever the interpretation, the sign itself is of the most universal character.”

If you’d like to read the full text of “Diary Leaves” online and buy a copy, please go to roerich.org.

“Song of the Waterfall” (1920) is part of Roerich’s Dreams of Wisdom series. We’ve had to crop the painting here but its long and vertical dimensions were originally meant to fit inside a London brownstone as decorative panels.

This painting shows an interesting mix of influences. Roerich was inspired by the Kangra style of painting, which flourished in 18th century India. There is also a hint of the French Symbolist painter Pierre Puvis de Chavannes, whose decorative aesthetic focused on emotion and imagination rather than realism.

If you’d like to see this in its full form, please go to roerich.org. There, you can also buy a print of this painting in our gift shop.