The most ancient icons of the Moscow region. The first Christian icons. Encaustic icon painting

The earliest prayer icons that have survived to this day date back to the period no earlier than the 6th century. They were made using the encaustic technique (Greek ἐγκαυστική - burning), when paint was mixed on heated wax. It should be noted that all paints consist of paint powder (pigment) and a binding material - oil, egg emulsion, or, as in in this case, wax.

Encaustic painting was the most widespread painting technique of the ancient world. It was from the ancient Hellenistic culture that this painting came to Christianity.

Encaustic icons are characterized by a certain “realism” in the interpretation of the image. The desire to document reality. This is not just a cult object, it is a kind of “photography” - living evidence of the real existence of Christ, the Virgin Mary, saints and angels. After all, the holy fathers considered the very fact of the true incarnation of Christ to be the justification and meaning of the icon. The invisible God, who has no image, cannot be depicted.

But if Christ was truly incarnate, if His flesh was real, then it was depictable. As Rev. later wrote. John of Damascus: “In ancient times, God, incorporeal and without form, was never depicted. Now that God has appeared in the flesh and lived among men, we portray the visible God.” It is this evidence, a kind of “documentary”, that permeates the first icons. If the Gospel, in the literal sense, good news, is a kind of report about the incarnate Lord, crucified for our sins, then the icon is an illustration of this report. There is nothing surprising here, because the word icon itself - εἰκών - means “image, image, portrait.”

But the icon conveys not only and not so much the physical appearance of the person depicted. As the same reverend writes. John: “Every image is a revelation and demonstration of what is hidden.” And in the first icons, despite the “realism”, the illusory transmission of light and volume, we also see signs of the invisible world. First of all, this is a halo - a disk of light surrounding the head, symbolizing the grace and radiance of the Divine (St. Simeon of Thessaloniki). In the same way, the icons depict symbolic images disembodied spirits - angels.

The most famous encaustic icon now can probably be called the image of Christ Pantocrator, kept in the monastery of St. Catherine in Sinai (it is worth noting that the collection of icons of the Sinai monastery is completely unique, the oldest icons have been preserved there, since the monastery, having been outside the Byzantine Empire, did not suffer from iconoclasm).

The Sinai Christ is painted in the free pictorial manner inherent in Hellenistic portraiture. Hellenism is also characterized by a certain asymmetry of the face, which has already caused a lot of controversy in our time and prompted some to search for hidden meanings. This icon was most likely painted in one of the workshops of Constantinople, as evidenced by high level its execution.

Christ Pantocrator. 6th century Monastery of St. Catherine. Sinai

Most likely, the same circle also includes icons of the Apostle Peter and the Mother of God on the throne, accompanied by saints and angels.

Apostle Peter. 6th century Monastery of St. Catherine. Sinai

Theotokos with the upcoming saints Theodore and George. 6th century Monastery of St. Catherine. Sinai

The Virgin Mary is depicted as the Queen of Heaven, seated on a throne, accompanied by saints dressed in court robes and angels. The simultaneous royalty and humility of Mary are interestingly demonstrated: at first glance, she is dressed in a simple dark tunic and maforium, but its dark purple color tells us that this is purple, and purple robes in the Byzantine tradition could only be worn by the Emperor and Empress.

A similar image, but painted later in Rome, represents the Mother of God - without any hints - in full imperial vestments and crown.

Our Lady - Queen of Heaven. Early 8th century. Rome. Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastavere

The icon has a ceremonial character. It follows the style of ceremonial imperial images. At the same time, the faces of the depicted characters are filled with softness and lyricism.

Our Lady - Queen of Heaven. Angel. Fragment

The image of saints in court clothes was supposed to symbolize their glory in the Kingdom of Heaven, and to convey this height, Byzantine masters resorted to forms that were familiar to them and understandable for their time. The image of Saints Sergius and Bacchus, now kept in Kyiv in the Bogdan and Varvara Khanenko Museum of Art, was executed in the same style.

St. Sergius and Bacchus. 6th century Kyiv. Museum of Art. Bogdan and Varvara Khanenko

But, in addition to the refined art cultural centers Empire, early icon painting is also represented by a more ascetic style, which is distinguished by greater sharpness, a violation of the proportions of the depicted characters, and an emphasized size of heads, eyes, and hands.

Christ and St. Mina. 6th century Paris. Louvre

Such icons are typical for the monastic environment of the East of the Empire - Egypt, Palestine and Syria. The harsh, sharp expressiveness of these images is explained not only by the level of provincial masters, which is undoubtedly different from the capital, but also by local ethnic traditions and the general ascetic orientation of this style.

Bishop Abraham. 6th century State Museums of Dahlem. Berlin.

Without any doubt, one can be convinced that long before the iconoclastic era and the 7th Ecumenical Council, which condemned iconoclasm, there was a rich and varied tradition of icon painting. And the encaustic icon is only part of this tradition.

Dmitry Marchenko

These icons have protected Russia for centuries. They stopped armies, healed the sick and saved them from fires.

1. Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God

According to legend, the Vladimir Icon Mother of God was written by the Evangelist Luke himself. It was brought to Russia at the beginning of the 12th century as a gift to Prince Mstislav.

The icon was recognized as miraculous after it three times withdrew the invaders’ troops from Moscow.

Now the icon is in the Church-Museum of St. Nicholas in Tolmachi at the Tretyakov Gallery.

2. Icon "Trinity"

The famous Trinity icon was painted by Andrei Rublev in the 15th century for the iconostasis of the Trinity Cathedral. Over the 600 years of its existence, the icon was renewed five times, but after the restoration in 1919, the author’s layer was again discovered.

Now the icon is kept in Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow.

3. Kazan Icon of the Mother of God

The Kazan Icon of the Mother of God was found on the ashes in 1579 after the Mother of God appeared three times in a dream to the girl Matrona. Today, the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God is one of the most popular in Russia. It is believed that it was her patronage that helped Pozharsky’s militia expel the Poles from Moscow.

Of the three miraculous lists, only the St. Petersburg one has survived to this day; it is now kept in the Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg.

4. Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God

It is generally accepted that the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God was found in Tikhvin in 1383. The icon is revered as miraculous. According to legend, it was her intercession in 1613 that helped save the Tikhvin Mother of God Assumption Monastery from the Swedish invasion.

Now the icon of the Tikhvin Mother of God is in the Tikhvin Dormition Monastery.

5. Smolensk Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Smolensk icon Holy Mother of God was brought to Russia in the 11th century. She was credited with many miracles, including saving Smolensk from the invasion of Batu Khan in 1239.

There are many copies of the Smolensk icon, but the prototype was lost during the occupation of Smolensk by German troops in 1941.

6. Iveron Icon of the Mother of God

In the 9th century, the Iveron Icon was kept in the house of a pious widow, who saved it from destruction by lowering it into the sea. Two centuries later, the icon appeared to the monks of the Iveron Monastery on Mount Athos.

In the 17th century, a copy of the miraculous icon was brought to Russia. Today you can venerate the image in the Novodevichy Convent.

7. Don Icon of the Mother of God

The Don Icon of the Mother of God is double-sided, with the Dormition of the Mother of God depicted on the reverse. The authorship of the icon is attributed to Theophanes the Greek. According to legend, the Cossacks presented this miraculous icon to Dmitry Donskoy before the Battle of Kulikovo in 1380.

Today, the icon is kept in the Tretyakov Gallery and leaves it every year on September 1 (August 19, old style). On this day, the image is transported to the Donskoy Monastery for the festive service.

8. Icon of the Sign of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Icon of the Sign of the Blessed Virgin Mary dates back to the 12th century. In 1170, when Andrei Bogolyubsky besieged Velikiy Novgorod, during a religious procession along the walls, a random arrow pierced the icon. The icon began to cry, and Bogolyubsky’s troops fled in horror.

The image is still stored in St. Sophia Cathedral in Veliky Novgorod.

9. Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God

The icon was found in the forest near Kursk on the day of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1295. At the site of the acquired image, a spring immediately began to flow.

According to legend, after the Tatar-Mongol raid the icon was cut in half, but as soon as its parts were combined, it miraculously"fused together."

In 1920, the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God was taken from Russia by Wrangel’s army. Since 1957, it has been kept in the Znamensky Cathedral of the Synod of Bishops in New York.

10. Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God

The exact date of painting of the Theodore Icon of the Mother of God is unknown, but the first mentions date back to the 12th century. The icon is considered miraculous; it was saved from fire several times, and in 1613, nun Martha blessed her son Mikhail Romanov with this icon when he was elected to the kingdom.

You can venerate the miraculous icon in Epiphany-Anastasia convent in Kostroma.

11. Pskov-Pechersk Icon “Tenderness”

The icon "Tenderness" is a copy of 1521 with Vladimir icon Mother of God. According to legend, the Pskov-Pechersk Icon protected Pskov from the siege of the Polish King Stephen in 1581.

Now the icon is in the Assumption Cathedral of the Pskov-Pechersk Monastery.

12.Saint Nicholas (Ugresh Icon)

The Ugresh Icon appeared to Dmitry Donskoy on his way to the Kulikovo Field in 1380. Later, a monastery was founded on that site, where the image was kept until the monastery was closed in 1925.

Now the miraculous icon is in the State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow.

13. Icon “Savior of Eleazar”

The revealed image of the Savior of Eleazar was found in November 1352. The icon was recognized as miraculous, and the tree on which the icon was found was walled up in the vault of the temple built where the icon was found.

Since August 2010, the icon of the Savior of Eleazarovsky has been kept in the Spaso-Eleazarovsky Monastery near Pskov.

14. Icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker (Nicholas of Mozhaisk)

The icon was painted in the first half of the 17th century from the famous carved sculpture depicting St. Nicholas the Wonderworker with a sword in his hands. In 1993-1995, the icon was restored, revealing the lower layers of paint.

Now the image is in the Church of the Descent of the Holy Spirit in Mozhaisk.

15. Icon of the Mother of God of the Seven Arrows

The revealed image of the Icon of the Mother of God of the Seven Arrows was found in the bell tower in Vologda. Long years parishioners walked on it, mistaking it for a floorboard. The image was recognized as miraculous during the cholera epidemic in 1830.

Today the revealed image is lost, but one of famous lists, the myrrh-streaming icon “Seven Arrows”, is located in the Church of the Archangel Michael in Moscow.

16. Icon of the Holy Matrona of Moscow

Matrona of Moscow was canonized only in 1999, but her icon, painted in the 21st century, has already been recognized as miraculous. The list contains a particle of the saint's veil and relics.

You can venerate the shrine in the Intercession Monastery in Moscow.

17. Icon of Blessed Xenia of St. Petersburg

Blessed Xenia of Petersburg was canonized in 1988, but they began to venerate the blessed one during her lifetime.

Most famous image is located in the Smolensk Church in St. Petersburg, where everyone can worship him.

18. Icon of the Transfiguration of the Lord

The icon of the Transfiguration of the Lord was painted in 1403. For a long time Theophanes the Greek was considered its author, but recent research has shown that the icon was painted by an unknown icon painter of the same period. The creation of the image is associated with the restoration and reconsecration of the Transfiguration Cathedral in Pereslavl-Zalessky.

Since the 20th century famous icon kept in the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow.

19. Icon of St. Spyridon of Trimythous

One of miraculous images Spyridon of Trimifuntsky is located in the Church of the Resurrection of the Word on the Assumption Vrazhek. Inside the icon is an ark containing the relics of the saint.

20. Icon of St. Basil in prayer to Christ

The icon was painted in late XVI century for the Cathedral of the Intercession on the Moat, which is better known as St. Basil's Cathedral.

The icon is still kept in the same place and is one of the oldest images of the temple.

21. Savior Not Made by Hands Simona Ushakova

The icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands was painted by Simon Ushakov in 1658. The icon painter was criticized for the uncharacteristic depiction of the face of Christ, but later it was this image that became the most popular in Russia.

Now the icon is kept in the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow.

22. Icon of the Savior in the Power of Andrei Rublev

The Icon of the Savior in Power was painted by Andrei Rublev and his apprentices for the iconostasis of the Assumption Cathedral in Vladimir in 1408.

The icon can be seen in the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow.

23. Icon of Seraphim of Sarov

One of the most revered icons of Seraphim of Sarov is kept in the Danilov Monastery in Moscow. The image is an exact copy from the cell icon of Schema Abbess Tamar and contains a rosary, part of the saint’s robe and part of the stone on which he prayed for a thousand days.

Today, the oldest icon depicting Christ (in the iconography of Pantocrator) is the icon discovered in the Sinai monastery in the 19th century.

The icon was created in Constantinople in the middle of the 6th century and sent by Emperor Justinian as a gift to the Sinai monastery, for which he was building a basilica and fortified walls at that time.

It was established that presumably in the 13th century the icon was renewed (drawn) with tempera painting. The original wax surface was cleaned during the restoration of the icon in 1962.

Restoration in 1962 revealed the original appearance ancient icons, which has been preserved almost completely with the exception of a small loss in the part of the halo to our right. Late Byzantine records covered the most unusual detail of early iconography - an ancient background with a spatial niche and golden stars. The initially missing inscription “Jesus Christ the Lover of Mankind” was also introduced, reflecting the late medieval perception of this image of Christ, in which they saw mercy and hope for salvation.

It is believed that the source of the chosen type of Christ, shown as a handsome and majestic man in his prime, with a short, thick beard and hair flowing over his shoulders, could have been the image of Olympian Zeus, widely known throughout the Greco-Roman world from the repeatedly copied sculpture by Phidias. Fame, rare similarities, and the testimony of contemporaries do not allow us to doubt that the conversion was conscious and, apparently, the image of Christ Pantocrator (“Almighty”) was supposed to supplant the image of the king of the gods in the ideas of recent pagans. At the same time, it is possible that the “authenticity” of the image could be confirmed in the images of the most ancient miraculous icons, which, according to the Byzantines, were created not by the will of man, but by the providence of God and, accordingly, had a special authenticity. In 574 such miraculous image Christ from Camuliana was solemnly transferred to Constantinople, where it became the palladium of the empire. At the end of the 7th century, the image of Christ, going back to one of these miraculous icons, first appeared on the gold coins of Justinian P. It is noteworthy that this main image empire that acquired the status state symbol, belonged to the same iconographic type as Christ Pantocrator on the Sinai icon.

In the image of Christ, the ideas of kingdom and priesthood are iconographically emphasized. He is shown wearing a dark lilac (purple) chiton and himation, the color of which in Byzantium was clearly associated with imperial power. The half-figure of Christ is shown against the background of the sky with golden stars - a transparent symbol of eternity and space. The lower part of the background shows an ornate architectural niche with windows. In our opinion, this unusual structure, reminiscent of a palace, a portal and a church apse at the same time, created the image of the Heavenly Jerusalem - heavenly kingdom, in which the depicted Christ Pantocrator reigns. In his left hand he holds a huge book in a precious frame, decorated with the image of a large cross. The book embodies the image of the Teaching, Holy Scripture, “The Word of God,” and through the cross reminds us of the Redemptive sacrifice. In addition, it represents not just a codex, but a liturgical gospel, brought into the temple at the Small Entrance and installed on the altar. It is significant that early Byzantine authors already interpreted this gospel carried in procession as an image of Christ appearing into the world in the majesty of heavenly glory.

Christ with the liturgical gospel pressed face to chest was associated with the high priest - the bishop blessing the believers during the service. The gesture of two-fingered blessing is also expressive. In an era when there were a variety of forms and images of blessing were found even with one index finger, the gesture of the Sinai Pantocrator is perceived as a formula acquired for centuries, with deep dogmatic content. As we know from medieval interpretations, three connected fingers symbolized the Holy Trinity, two raised and intertwined fingers, located one below the other, spoke of the mystical union in Christ of the divine and human nature. The gestures of Christ's hands embodied the most important ideas of the teaching about the God-man, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity incarnate on earth. A Herculean Challenge the creation of an image that is both earthly and heavenly was solved in the Sinai icon using a number of artistic techniques. One of them is a combination of multidirectional movements, the so-called contrapposto, well developed in ancient greek sculpture: The body is slightly turned to one side, and the head is turned to the other. Internal dynamics arise, removing the impression of hieratic rigidity of the frontal pose and giving the entire plasticity of the figure activity and vital conviction.

Another technique is a deliberately asymmetrical interpretation of the face of Christ, which consists of two different halves. The left one is calm, strict, detached, with a natural outline of a wide-open eye and an even arch of eyebrows. The picture completely changes on the right side of the face - the eyebrow is raised and dramatically arched, it is echoed by a much more expressive drawing of the eye, as if peering intensely. The icon painter strives to create an image of the God-man, in which the thoughts of an omnipotent cosmocrator, a strict judge and a humane-loving, compassionate Savior would simultaneously and consistently coexist. It is interesting that such an asymmetrical interpretation of the face will become distinctive feature images of Pantocrator in the domes of Byzantine churches.

Scientists find in this icon the influence of a Fayum portrait

Since ancient times, icon painting centers existed in Rus', along with which there were large, medium and small artels, icon painters-Itinerants and even individual self-taught peasant artists worked. Naturally, each of them had not just a special handwriting and style, but also a level of painting, skill in using a brush, and the ability to create a special mood in the viewer, in the praying person. And it is precisely this level of painting that is appreciated today by those who want to buy an icon with special artistic overtones!

At the same time, icons from recognized icon-painting centers such as Mstera, Palekh, Nevyansk are especially revered by true collectors; ancient antique icons Stroganov letters, icons of the Russian North. The most expensive icons will undoubtedly belong to them - famous icon-painting centers, but even among them, icons whose origin is confirmed by additional data will especially stand out, namely, signed copies that have a specific author.

Selling antique icons from famous icon painting centers is a responsible matter for us, which we approach with trepidation and respect.

And of course, the icons of Palekh, Mstera, Nevyansk or Stroganov icons will cost much more than, for example, Kholui, since the icons of the Vladimir villages were designed for the mass consumer, and all the rest were initially expensive, exclusive, intended for wealthy owners.

This is one of the criteria by which only selected images can be characterized as very rare antique icons.

Another criterion is iconographic subjects. Thus, rare icons of the Mother of God will cost more than images produced in millions of copies. The Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, for example, will be found on the antique market much more often than the icon of the Mother of God Worthy to Eat, or the Mother of God “Helper of Loaves”!

The interest of a true collector looking for rarities will always extend beyond common subjects. And the further he manages to go in his quest to find unique, rarely circulated subjects, the more interesting his collection will be, and the more expensive each copy will be!

The third sign is the ideal condition of the icon, which has survived to this day through the centuries. Only in good condition are they considered truly rare.

The most expensive antique icons of Russia are those for which all three criteria (belonging to a well-known icon painting school (availability of information about a specific master), rarity of the subject and collectible condition) coincide at the same time, will answer modern requirements serious collecting trend.

According to these criteria, the price of antique icons is determined. This was the case in the past, is now and will be in the future on the market of any antiques!

Rare antique icons are exclusive, which you cannot buy in another antique salon. Such antiquities that have survived to this day are not only true works of art, but also a reliable investment tool, because the law of antiques is simple: the price of antique rare items can only grow over time, and it grows very quickly, many times over!

Antique icons in the Heritage of Ancestors salon

On our website you can find real antique icons with attribution documents. Authenticity, cultural and collectible value and age ancient icons, presented in our antique salon, is confirmed by the conclusion of an art expert - evaluation specialist cultural values and intangible assets, non-state forensic expert. Here we have collected for you the best examples of Russian Orthodox religious art, which will decorate exclusive home collections and icon cases, will create in the house an atmosphere of extraordinary goodness, kindness, the atmosphere of patriarchal and religious Russia of past centuries!

You can buy antique icons in any way convenient for you, but first you will have the opportunity to get to know each in the old fashioned way, having considered high quality photos and after reading detailed description. It is very important for us full information about every icon that can safely be called a masterpiece!

October 08, 2013

One of the options for knowing God

An icon is an image, an image. In Christianity, an icon is a painted person or event associated with various Bible stories. Icons in Rus' have always been revered, people prayed to them, and asked for their help.

Art critics consider images created according to standards to be icons. They should be made on a linden board with the addition of writing and signs. But religion believes that sculptures, mosaics and paintings, as well as any images, can be icons, but on the condition that they are given the veneration indicated by the Seventh Ecumenical Council.

An icon is one of the options for knowing God, a way to unite with him. There are the following types of icons: didactic (they literally describe biblical traditions), symbolic (allegory), mystical (the images on the icon actualize their presence not in essence, but in action, they carry energy) and, finally, liturgical (similar to mystical, they involve in the formation of the liturgical space as “heaven on earth”).

In Peru and Rome

According to their functions, icons carry liturgical, theological-symbolic, aesthetic and missionary functions.

But do people know which is the oldest icon? She was found in Peru. This icon is the oldest in the world. This icon was created before our era. True, the icon is unusual modern idea. It is made on an ancient bowl that was used in the temple. Scientists believe that the icon was painted by a civilization that preceded the Inca civilization. When they dug up the bowl, they also found household items from the temple. This suggests that the first images of the deity appeared a thousand years earlier than previously thought.

But there is also a very old icon, familiar to the eye. And not even alone. In 2010, Italian restorers discovered images of the four apostles - John, Peter, Andrew and Paul. The frescoes were found in the tomb of the aristocracy in Rome. During the study, which was carried out for two years, it was revealed that the icons were created in the fourth century AD. The restoration of the icons took two whole years. They were processed with a special laser, which burned away the layers of calcium carbonate on the frescoes. Also, the original colors of the icons were restored.

What the Apostles looked like

It was these icons, according to scientists, that gave the familiar images of the four apostles. The faces of the saints were painted in Rome. Fourth-century icons depicting St. Paul were not found in isolated cases. Previously they were found the same way. The difference is that in this icon Paul is depicted alone. Thus, it turns out that this is his first icon.

It is worth remembering that an apostle is a messenger. The disciples of Jesus are considered apostles. The Bible speaks of twelve immediate disciples; in a broad sense, there are seventy apostles.

It is interesting that the Apostle Paul was called after the Resurrection. In fact, he was not one of the direct disciples of Christ, but he is still revered in the same way as the Apostle Peter. also the Apostle Paul, also called Saul, considered himself the apostle of the pagans.

Apostle Peter

The Apostle Peter was born and lived in the family of a simple fisherman. Peter's original name was Simon. When he grew up, he got married. Together with his brother, he continued the family business and became a fisherman. Jesus, having met Peter and Andrew, called them to follow him. Peter remained with his teacher until the end, becoming one of his favorite followers. Peter was very hot-tempered.

When Jesus was arrested, it was Peter who denied Christ three times, but then repented. After the resurrection of Christ, Peter became a preacher, performed amazing miracles. During the period of persecution, Peter was crucified on an inverted cross. This was his dying wish, he believed that he was not worthy to die the same way as Jesus.

The oldest icon is not alone. U different religions have their oldest icons. Yes, it is interesting to look at ancient creations, but it is important that people believe in God and pray to God through icons.