Treasure of Angels 1905

Nicholas Roerich’s "Treasure of Angels," is a painting made with, I'm guessing, tempera or maybe distemper. It’s flat, matte, and sort of chalky, which is perfect for this otherworldly scene. Look at how Roerich layers the colors, one on top of the other. It's like he's building up the image from the ground, with these ochre and olive hues. It's all about the making, you know? Not trying to hide the process, but letting it be part of the story. And those figures! So many angels, each with their own little halo. And they're not all perfect, some are a bit smudged or off-kilter. But that's what I love, that sense of human touch. It reminds me of El Greco, that same elongated, ethereal feel. It’s like Roerich is inviting us into a conversation about what it means to be spiritual, without being too precious.