Lototska V. Problems of the Ideal Sacred Nature of the Environment in the Ukrainian Plastic Art of the 16 - 20th Centuries (Genre Typology, Concepts, Means of Artistic Expression).

The thesis outlines the fundamentals of ideality of the environment at different stages of social and historical development of Ukrainians, dynamics of changes in aesthetic and artistic interpretation of sacredness of the environment. A genre typology of works of art highlighting the theme of sacredness of the environment was provided, devices of their artistic expression were revealed. The connection between the development of the concept of ideal sacred nature of the environment in arts and philosophy of Ukraine in the 16-20th centuries was traced. It has represented the new notional interpretation of works of art of different genres in cultural aspects, in understanding the natural environment as a spiritual value. The cultural meaning of such a term as "ideal sacred nature of the environment" was determined. The system of images and concepts of the cultural landscape from the point of view of reflecting national mentality in them with regard to the ideas of nature was characterized. The system of floral motifs was analyzed in order to identify the peculiarities of realizing the idea of sacredness of the environment. A garden as a sustainable art motif connected with the category of perfect space was observed. The importance of the scientific study of the natural environment as a spiritual value in the context of current challenges of environmental protection was argued.