The spiritual ideal which Ivanov evolved during his student years in Europe was composed of two main elements, the Dionysiac and the Christian. The first of these was strongly coloured by Nietzsche's ideas, while the second owed much to the influence of various Christian thinkers among whom the Russian philosopher and poet Vladimir Solovyov (1853–1900) played a role of special importance. Although his influence was for a time partially eclipsed by Ivanov's fascination with Nietzsche and Dionysus, it later reasserted itself and was a substantial factor in the composition of Ivanov's spiritual idea. It is of particular interest for our subject as certain aspects of Solovyov's teaching contributed directly to the formation of the Symbolists’ and Ivanov's perception of Dante. To see how this came about, it is necessary to first consider the nature of Solovyov's beliefs and the impact which these had on his own interest in Dante.

SOLOVYOV'S TEACHING ON SOPHIA

The idea of Sophia

One of the principal drives behind Solovyov's teaching was a sense of dissatisfaction with the historical development and contemporary state of Christianity. In October 1891 he gave a lecture entitled ‘On the Decline of the Medieval World-View’ in which he analysed the source of the spiritual decline of Christianity and urged his audience to return to a truer form of Christian faith. In his view Christianity was in its essence a religion of God-manhood, and its mission was to transform humanity and the world into the Kingdom of God, to turn the Flesh into Spirit.