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After the iconoclasts destroyed most of the
existing Byzantine icons in the 8th century, iconography gradually returned to
favor; by the end of the 10th and during the 11th centuries favorable
conditions already existed for the Byzantine Renaissance. By coincidence,
Russia accepted Christianity from Constantinople at the time of the revival of
Byzantine art, so that Greek priests came to Russia to propagate the new
religion, at the same time as artists and teachers with icons, books and most
other products of Byzantine art. The first churches in Kiev and Novgorod were
built and decorated by these well qualified Greek masters assisted by Russians
in the simple tasks. Their details of construction carry the stamp of
contemporary Byzantine architecture. These first churches served as workshops
where the Russian apprentices learned new crafts from their Greek masters and,
so that by the time Kiev was plundered, generations of Russian church builders
and iconographers were already formed.
In Russia as elsewhere religious art, including iconography, has been
always controlled by the Church. Ecclesiastical authorities required that icons
be painted in accordance with exact regulations. They dictated the colors to be
used, the contents of each picture, the pose and disposition of each figure
within the scene portrayed, the vestments, the background of the picture etc.
As a result of this strict procedure the images of Christ, the Virgin, saints,
prophets and angels were established in the 5th century and had since been
copied thousands of times. The comparative size of each individual or object
was decided not in accordance with perspective, but in compliance with the rank
and importance of each personage. The whole composition was designed to bring
out the importance of the central figure. Jesus, needless to say, is always the
central figure, followed by the Virgin and Saint John the Baptist. They are
almost always turned toward the congregation and often they have an air of
weightlessness. This characteristic detail is intended to show, centuries
before our astronauts, that the saints are outside of terrestrial influence and
that they dwell in heaven. We have an extensive, special collection of brass
icons made by Old Believers -
icons.
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