Medieval Wall Paintings in the Churches and Monasteries of Raška. 1, Saint Peter’s Church and Djurdjevi Stupovi in Ras

Abstract

In the early stages of the development of Serbian culture, Raška (Rascia) had a prominent and often leading role among the territories inhabited by Serbs. In the 9th and 10th centuries, this region, which at the time housed the nucleus of Serbian political life, began to bring forth monuments that would have lasting significance for the evolution of national art and without which its genesis would be very difficult to understand. From the second half of the 12th and throughout the 13th century, Raška saw the construction of religious monuments whose architecture, sculpture, and wall paintings would decisively influence the building and emerging identity profile of Serbian medieval culture in an area much broader than Raška itself.