Art of Studenica monastery - Kraljevo,Serbia

Art
 
Crucifixion, fresco from Virgin's church
The artistic achievements of the sculpture of Studentica culminate in four portals of the Virgin's Church, primarily the west one, inside between the narthex and the exonarthex. On the north wall under the dome, there is a window made of many square panes with medallions carved on a leaden plaque which represent eight fantastic animals - the symbols of the Virgin's virtues. There are also two rosettes denoting the Divine Eye. The masons came to Studenica most probably from the Adriatic region, perhaps from Kotor, where Nemanja used to have a palace. They left an insciption in Serbian lettering on the tympanum of the west portal.

The Virgin's Church was painted in the first decade of the 13th century. The original frescoes have been partly preserved in the altar area, under the dome, on the west wall, and in the lower registers of the nave. The most splendid representation is that of the Crucifixion, painted on blue background in 1209, one of the paramount achievements in Serbian art. On the south wall there is the "founders' composition" which shows the Virgin taking Nemanja (Simon) with the church model to Jesus Christ as the Magistrate Impartial. The narthex was painted in 1569. Those frescoes include an exquisite representation of the Last Judgment in the upper registers, and the portrait of Nemanja's wife Ana as the nun Anastasija.

The earliest fresco painting in King's church marks the supreme achievement of Byzantine art in the region. The frescoes in Radoslav's narthex and the pareclesions originate from the 1230s and display a close relation to the painting style of the main church. The north chapel, dedicated to St. Nicholas, contains a composition of the Hetimasia and a cycle dealing with the life of St. Nicholas. In the south chapel one finds the portraits of Nemanja, Stefan the First Crowned and King Radoslav with his wife Ana. On the north wall of the narthex, three dignitaries of the Serbian Church are portrayed - the archbishops Sava, Arsenije and Sava II (Radoslav's brother).

Carvings on the stone lintel around the window  depicts images of many animals (serpents, lions, eagles, lambs, wild boars) and unearthly creatures ( sirens, mermaids, griffins), who represent deep symbolism. Satisfying the stomach leads to other pleasures of the flesh  and excites the desire for carnal sin - on the window represented by the mermaid. Loss of control over the desires of body, which should be but a servant of the soul, leads to indolence. This is symbolized by the eagle which, although conscious of its wings, does not have strength to rise from the ground nor the urge to soar into the heavens.  False lambs are lovers of silver, which is why they change symbol of peace to symbol of treason. One should beware of those who come dressed in lamb's clothing, outwardly mild but within ravening wolves.