Paintings Russian Icons

An icon corner, a small flame, a face darkened by candle smoke. Russian icons are painted on wooden panels in egg tempera and gold, made for the icon corner of an Orthodox home or the iconostasis of a church. These date from the 18th and 19th centuries and show the Madonna and Child, Saint John the Baptist, Saint Seraphim of Sarov, Saint Theodosius, Saint George on horseback, the Archangel Michael with Saint Peter, the Nativity and scenes from the life of Christ. Many wear an oklad or riza, a pierced cover of silver or brass that leaves only the painted faces and hands visible, and the panels show the darkened varnish, worm channels and candle smoke of long use.

Small, and heavy with meaning. Propped on a library shelf or hung low beside a doorway, the gold gathers lamplight as it was meant to.