The history of Russian Icons mostly started in the 10th century when a number of Russian monastery walls were concealed with Festival and Votive icons. Outer chapels also presented wooden panels featuring different saints of their time.
Iconography became more abundant in Russia as the country owned a huge quantity of wood coming from its northern forests. From the 10th century, there was an increase in the demand and creation of devotional icons which was known as Moléannas.
Things changed when Peter I ruled during the late 17th and the beginning of the 18th century which brought Russia into a period of Enlightenment as his change of religion to Protestantism reduced the production of ancient icons. This followed a reduction in the protection of these objects and a great number of them were ruined by cold, heat water and dust.
Before 1900, collectors considered Russian iconography a neglected and decaying art as there was a lack of care for them. However, things changed at the beginning of the 20th century, when art restorers started removing layers of soot and grime and were able to show their deep colours and golden highlights at the surface.
The making of Russian icons
Russian iconographers mostly used yellow and metallic paints but were substituted by gold and silver coverings known as cloisonné. The cloisons, which is an old technique of melting gold and silver wires together will then be filled with different hues of enamel powder, combined with semi-precious stones and pearls.
Traditional hues of Russian icons
In most cases, Russian iconographers painted their icons in layers. The first layer was mostly a background made of a dark brown colour which mostly featured a light brown and reddish ochre with highlights and bright areas, and was completed with a white strip in an ochre fuse.
Ensuring consistency
Russian iconography ensured consistency with their images as painters would often use a tracing tool and guidebooks that provided them with a description of the saint. Even the small details helped these painters to properly interpret the image. Most styles found with these Russian icons were hands raised in blessing or in a prayer as common poses that gives these paintings a more religious vibe.
Most of the common figures made by iconographers were the Christ and the Virgin Mary which were commonly shown with a circular halo. The wood panel also contained a deep rectangular surface surrounding the icon to highlight the division between Earth and the Heaven above.
Bio: Andre Ruzhnikov is a celebrated art and antique dealer with more than four decades of experience in the international art market. He offers a personalised service for his clients from acquisition to sale, restoration, appraisal and insurance. Visit his site at Ruzhnikov and get to view his rare collection of Russian Icons, Antique Silver, Objets de Vertu and more.
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