Applying the war historical re-enactment method in teaching historical painting

Abstract

Being an artist is not enough to make a piece of historical art. This requires a study, the deliverables of which allow creating a scientifically reliable composition. To put it otherwise, an artwork brought into existence in such a way can be created on an interdisciplinary basis, and it is not until then that it becomes educational. A study used in the educational process considerably increases the degree of professional competence of students. The authors of this article, being professors at the Fine Arts and Folk Crafts Department, Moscow Region State University, have employed a range of research methods as the basic ones. These include war historical re-enactment, case review of its research and organization in modern social and cultural settings, modeling and forecasting deliverables of students‘ artistic activities when creating historical paintings, and the method of expert evaluation. In order to trial war historical re-enactment as an academic research method together with the Department‘s students, art and research project “Neuchatel‘s Battalion at the Battle of Wagram” has been launched across the curriculum. The project incorporates stages of joint research and artistic work of academicians and students. During the project, a mechanism of inter-knowledge interaction is formed in the minds of students, which allows students to acquire historical knowledge about the Neuchatel battalion, Battle of Wagram, uniforms worn during the Napoleonic Wars, and the work of battle painters. Based on the above, the students acquire metadisciplinary skills they employ to create themed art in terms of traditional battle paintings by Alexander Averyanov, Peter von Hess, and Louis-Francois Lejeune. We have summarized the experience of employing the war historical re-enactment method in teaching students historical painting. It is reflected in the study guide students use to study military garments worn in the early 19th century and create themed works of art. Its contents are recommended for both teachers and students studying art to create student artworks consistent with traditional battle paintings.