Image of Sun in Works of M. V. Lomonosov and G. R. Derzhavin: Dialectics of Rational and Metaphysical

This article explores the poetic cosmology of M. V. Lomonosov and G. R. Derzhavin, focusing on the visualization of verbal artistic imagery within their cosmological poetry. The evolution of principles governing the creation of cosmic space in the philosophical poetry of the late 18th century is traced. By correlating empirical and scientific worldviews with the foundations of Christian belief, it is demonstrated that while both poets share a common understanding of the universe as a divine creation, their approaches to divine contemplation as an intellectual engagement with each element of the galaxy reveal distinct differences in their poetic cosmology. It is asserted that Lomonosov’s “Morning Reflections on the Majesty of God” stands as an exemplary synthesis of scientific and empirical knowledge, where his observational experiences regarding celestial movements provide an impetus for a nuanced interplay between symbolic and rational perspectives on the universe's space. An analysis of Derzhavin’s poem “Morning” illustrates how he advances the astronomical theme in Russian poetry by aestheticizing the cosmos, introducing vivid color and light details into his cosmogony. The innovative character of Derzhavin’s artistic cosmology, in contrast to Lomonosov’s physico-theological poetry, is identified as a result of expanding the depiction of cosmic space through a focus on the intricacies of earthly existence and its glorification.