The NYC-based online gallery Russian Icon Collection joined forces with the renowned Museum of the Russian Icon in Moscow to create the Russian Icon Book that represents a comprehensive collection of antique Russian icons dating to the 18th-19th centuries. The Russian Icon Book is already available in a digital version on the gallery’s website and will soon be released in print. All of the icons presented in the book belong to a private collection, meaning that most of them have never been shown to the public before.

The Russian Icon Book is a collection of museum-quality icons that were brought together over the course of two decades. It features many first-class icons created by talented unknown masters from the most important icon painting centers of the Russian Empire, including Palekh, Kholuy, and Mstyora. The art collection also features rare Old Believer icons painted in the iconographic workshops of Vetka and Guslitsy.

Among the highlights of the collection is a series of The Resurrection – The Harrowing of Hades icons with the major Church Feasts. Such icons, which are also called “full-cycle icons” or “polnitsy,” are distinguished by their complex iconographic schemes. The most valuable of them were created in the late 18th – early 19th centuries by Palekh masters who were especially fond of this subject. Their works are notable for a refined “miniature” painting style and extreme attention to detail.

Other jewels of the collection featured in the Russian Icon Book include the Iconostasis icon commissioned by the Popovtsy, one of the main factions of Old Believers; the Yearly Menaion that represents a set of 12 icons depicting the major Church Feasts and saints in order of their commemoration; and The Unexpected Joy icon of the Mother of God, which has an extraordinary iconographic scheme.

Special attention should be given to the hagiographical icons of saints. These particularly include antique icons of St. Sergius of Radonezh, Sts. Cosmas and Damian, the Prophet Elias, St. Charalambos of Magnesia, St. John the Baptist, St. Alexius, the Man of God, and St. Catherine.

Each icon presented in the Russian Icon Book was carefully examined and described by Anna Ivannikova, a reputable art historian and curator, and Sergey Khodorkovskiy, a specialist in Russian iconography and seasoned collector.

The project became possible thanks to the collaboration of the online gallery Russian Icon Collection and the Museum of the Russian Icon in Moscow, with the support of the international art logistics company Fine Art Shippers.

About Russian Icon Collection

Founded by Oleg Kushnirskiy, Russian Icon Collection is one of the leading online galleries of antique Russian icons. It represents the most accurate compilation of all the knowledge and expertise gained from many years of collecting and selling rare and famous religious icons of museum quality. Initially created to preserve this sacred form of art and to display the true masterpieces of Eastern Orthodox iconography, Russian Icon Collection has become a reliable place where everyone can enjoy and sell authentic antique icons and religious artifacts, as well as make use of professional restoration, advisory, management, and appraisal services provided by the most qualified experts in the field.