History of Russia: “Resplendent in the Russian Land” icons exhibition in Moscow

September 14, 2011 the Andrei Rublev Central Museum of the Old Russia Culture and Art (Moscow), opens the "Resplendent in the Russian Land" exhibition covering the history of honoring the Russian saints from ancient times to the early 20th century, their significance in the history of the Russian Church and State.

The exhibition features icons, works of decorative art and books dating to 16th – early 20th century from the collections of the Museum, which illustrate the diversity of the iconography of Russian saints. It includes images of the saints of Kiev, Novgorod, Pskov, Tver, Moscow, Vladimir and Vologda lands, of the Volga and Kama regions, the North and the Urals. A special section highlights the saints of the Holy Synod age.

A number of icons dating to the end of 16th - early 20th century, are displayed the wide audience for the first time. All of them were renovated by museum restorers specifically for the exhibition opening. Among these icons are images of St. Joseph of Volokolamsk overlooking the monastery, Moscow God’s fool St. Basil, Novgorod God’s Fool Nikola Kochanov, St. Barnabas of Vetluga, righteous Jacob of Borovichi. Among the displayed icons there are works by famous artists with their signature and date.

In addition to icons, the exhibition features the images of Russian saints in enamels from Rostov Veliky, in wood carving from workshops of Kiev and Sergiev Posad, in the Old Believer copper casting. The exhibition also includes relevant manuscripts and printed books, lithographic sheets, and watercolor works by Victor Vasnetsov.

The exhibition will run through November 20, 2011.