Featured And New Acquisitions
R2024.09
Saint Nicholas with Scenes from his Life
19th Century
Egg tempera on wood
Russian Old Believer workshop
Gift of Lynette and Brandon Hull, 2024
Saint Nicholas is one of the most popularized and propagated saints in Christianity; he is remembered as a wonderworker, gift-giver, and protector of innocent people. The life and legend of Saint Nicholas are illustrated in 32 meticulously painted scenes in this stunning 19th-century masterpiece from an Old Believer workshop in Russia. This icon was created to dazzle viewers and invite the faithful to lose themselves in the exquisite rendering of details—in the curly-cue waves of the seascapes, in the supple, gold garments, and the many craggy mountains and fantastical buildings.
R2010.24
Paternitas, On Your Right Hand the Queen
Late 17th Century
Egg tempera on wood
Gift of Gordon Lankton, 2013
The Orthodox Church does not sanction icons of the Holy Trinity, as some see icons of God the Father as idolatrous. Early in the church, iconographers developed the iconography of the Ancient of Days, a depiction of Christ aged with a white beard, a theological interpretation of biblical texts. The Christ Child sits upon his Father’s lap, giving the same gesture of blessing with his left hand and holding a scroll in his right. A dove in a circle represents the Holy Spirit, completing the trinity. This icon combines two motifs: the Paternitas and the “On Your Right Hand the Queen” (a form of the Deesis)
Search The Collection
We are continually adding to our website images and information about the more than 1,000 icons and objects in our collection. You can sort these by place of origin.
Please feel free to use and share images from our collection. To order an image and for our policy on commercial use of images, please go our photo policy.
Russia
Greece
Ethiopia
WHAT IS AN ICON?
An icon is regarded by the faithful as a bridge between heaven and earth. Its visual language reflects the culture and tradition of its creator.
