The achievements of the Renaissance in Europe were major
achievements for mankind. However, these achievements were
not always known, nor understood in cultures outside of Europe.
As an example, linear perspective was not adopted outside of
Europe. Some say that Renaissance discoveries were not adopted
not because of a lack of ability, but rather, because of perceived
incompatibility with native cultural ideologies. Centuries after
the Mongol invasion, Renaissance achievements were artificially
grafted onto Russian society. The result is that a large proportion
of the Russian population remains unaware of the Renaissance.
No Feuillet choreography. No theory of music or dance (Ballet d'Action)
based upon a theory that emphasizes passions. No theory of humanistic
philosophy, no theories of rhetoric based upon gesture to expand art,
architecture, acting, clothing, theatre, gardens, etc. - foreigners were
employed that were aware of some of these things. Aristocrats (that
personally beat their talented serfs may have been sensitive to
the Renaissance, but whatever their sensitivities, their knowledge of the
Renaissance was foreign to Russia, and forgotten). There appears to be no
extant written studies in Russia that focused upon the Renaissance and
Baroque arts. If such studies existed, it never penetrated Russian society.
Russians created their "own" Renaissance, but it is distinctly different
from the European Renaissance and Baroque. This non-existence of the
European Renaissance and Baroque is significant.
As an example, consider the painting by Dionysiy Dionisius (1440-1502),
above. Consider where the vanishing points are. This kind of "perspective"
is sometimes referred to as "inverse perspective".
As an aside, it is noteworthy that if linear perspective
effectively was not a part of Russian culture, then
perspective theatre stages also were not a part of Russian
culture (except if unconsciously lifted, from France, for
example; or consciously used in opposition to Russian cultural
ideologies [the Russian Orthodox church]).
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