Orthodox icons represent a vital part of the Russian artistic tradition. They embody the craft that has been developing for centuries, polished in the icon painting workshops scattered across the country. “Russian Icons,” a comprehensive art catalog of Russian icons, recently presented by Russian Icon Collection, offers a 360-degree view of Oleg Kushnirskiy’s private collection of Old Believer icons, opening unlimited space for research and appreciation of this long-standing tradition.
The 324-page catalog is not only a compilation of high-resolution icon images; it is a rich, chronological narrative of the history of Orthodox religious art in Russia. The introductory part of the catalog contains thoughtful commentary from Ilya Kushnirskiy, Oleg’s son and director of the Russian Icon Collection project, and offers reviews from Irina Shalina, Natalia Komashko, Sergei Brun, Yevgeny Roizman, and Sergey Khodorkovskiy, all renowned collectors and religious art experts.
The book itself is divided into thematic sections that cover the path of Russian icons to America, the role and place of icons in the modern age, and an overview of the collection’s formation efforts, with a commentary from Dr. Alek D. Epstein. There is also a separate discussion of the renewed interest in Orthodox icons in the 21st century, and the promotional and educational role that the Oleg Kushnirskiy collection can play in that process. The catalog includes high-quality photos of each icon in the collection, with a detailed description of their meaning and an analysis of border scenes. An interested reader is sure to find fascinating details about the painting techniques of those times, deepening their knowledge of the icon painting tradition.
The art catalog of Russian Icons is a culmination of many years’ collecting and cataloging efforts of Oleg Kushnirskiy, which started during his life in the USSR and continued after the Kushnirskiy family’s migration to the USA. Oleg developed an interest in Old Believer icons many years ago, traveling across Russia and gathering his collection bit by bit. The fruits of his labor represent immense research value for everyone interested in religious art as a collector, researcher, or practitioner. The collection has already been presented at TMORA, with several more important exhibitions in the USA and Europe scheduled for 2026. The catalog is available for purchase on the Russian Icon Collection website, with multiple convenient delivery options.
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