How artists depicted the ‘Russian Atlantis’ – the city of Kitezh

According to legend, Kitezh was built by Prince Georgy Vsevolodovich. Then, the troops of Batu Khan, who invaded Rus', destroyed the wonderful city and killed all its inhabitants, including the prince. According to another legend, the city disappeared in the waters of Svetloyar Lake before the eyes of the astonished invaders. Since then, only those who have no evil thoughts in their hearts can see it and hear the ringing of the Kitezh church bells.

And below is how the legendary city was depicted by artists.

1. Ivan Bilibin. ‘The Tale of the City of Kitezh’

2. Apollinary Vasnetsov. ‘Lake Svetloyar’, 1906

3. Konstantin Gorbatov. ‘The Drowned City (Kitezh)’, 1913

4. Mikhail Nesterov. ‘The City of Kitezh (In the Forests)’, 1917–1922

5. Konstantin Korovin. ‘The Invisible City of Kitezh’, 1930

6. Nikolay Denisov. ‘The Tale of the City of Kitezh’, 1973

7. Ilya Glazunov. ‘The Legend of the City of Kitezh’, 1990