Shmit, F. I. (Fedor Ivanovich), 1877-1942 Author. text Kharkov : Y. P. Fishgang Printing House, 1919. rus This book is a short history of the art of Ancient Rus', the medieval polity centered on Kiev, which flourished from the 9th to the 13th centuries, and which formed the basis for much of later Russian and Ukrainian culture. Topics covered include the influences of the Varangians and of Eastern Orthodoxy, the importance of Christianity, wooden architecture, churches and monasteries in Kiev, art and architecture in the historic city of Chernigov, and the arts of enamel and icon painting. Particular attention is paid to Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kiev, including its architectural form, interior finish, paintings, and sculptures. The book includes illustrations and a short bibliography. The author, Fyodor I. Shmit (1877--circa 1942), was a noted Byzantinist, archaeologist, and educator. He was a professor at Kharkov University and a member of the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences before being arrested and executed in the Stalinist purges of the 1930s. Title devised, in English, by Library staff. Original resource extent: 111 pages : illustrations and bibliography. Yaroslav Mudryi National Library of Ukraine. Description based on data extracted from World Digital Library, which may be extracted from partner institutions. 800 to 1299 Architectural decorations and ornaments Architecture, Byzantine Cathedral of Saint Sophia (Kiev, Ukraine) Cathedrals Churches Icons Monasteries Religious articles Varangians Ukraine Kiev https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.wdl/wdl.10011