Hermeneutics of Old Russian Literature Hermeneutics of Old Russian Literature 1607-6192 2713-2226 IWL RAS https://doi.org/10.22455/HORL.1607-6192-2025-24-705-722 Research Article Articles THE TREE OF THE RUSSIAN STATE — A RARE VISUAL PLOT IN RUSSIAN ILLUMINATED BOOKS OF THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY Sukina Lyudmila B. old-rus@imli.ru 2025 24 705 722 Copyright © 2026, IWL RAS 2026 The article examines the tree of the Russian State — a rare visual story in Russian illuminated books of the 17th century. The diversity of book miniatures’ plots requires a special study of each thematic group in order to correctly determine its place and role in the intellectual and visual culture of the last century of the dominance of the manuscripts in Russia. The article examines book illustrations depicting the tree of the Russian state — a symbolic genealogy of the grand knyazes and tsars. This plot is not found in Russian illuminated books before the 17th century. But even for this century, it remained extremely rare, although it was widespread on icons and frescoes. Currently, three book miniatures depicting the dynastic tree of Russian sovereigns are known: in two monastery sinodiks (gk. synodicon) and a copy of the Book of Royal Degrees. Compositionally, all these images go back to the iconography of the Tree of Jesse (Genealogy of Christ) common in Christian medieval art. In Russian illuminated books of the 17th century, it is found in the Gospels written and illuminated by order of members of the royal family or persons close to it. The images of the Russian state tree in book miniatures are associated with the same circle of customers. At the same time, the iconography of princely/royal trees is quite diverse, since each time its compilers were guided by different goals and objectives. 1. Antonov, D.I., and M.R. Maizuls. 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