Windows to Heaven: Treasures from the Museum of Russian Icons will open at Maryhill Museum of Art September 14, 2013 and run through November 15, 2013. The exhibition features a group of historically significant Russian icons dating from 1590 to the present, all drawn from the collection of The Museum of Russian Icons in Clinton, Massachusetts.

Windows to Heaven: Treasures from the Museum of Russian Icons explores the historical context in which the icons were created, the definition of an icon, and how icons are made – both in the past and today. The exhibition also looks at Russian history and culture, and the systematic destruction of holy images, or the practice of iconoclasm.

What is an Icon?
The word icon derives from the Greek work eikon, meaning an image, portrait or likeness. An icon is a likeness of a divine, heavenly appearance, which worshipers use as a means for prayer. Icons are created for the glory of God, using a unique aesthetic criteria and artistic language. The subject matter of an icon many be a holy person, a scene from holy writings or a combination of both.

The composition of both portrait and narrative icons, as well as how the human form and other elements are depicted, follows time-honored conventions. Traditionally, icons are painted in egg tempera on wooden panels. Portions of the painting are sometimes embellished with a metal covering, or riza, that can be decorated with gemstones or filigree. Artists use existing icons or pattern books as guides and individual artists are seldom recognized.

Icons in Russia
There is a rich history and elaborate religious symbolism associated with Russian icons. Icons from Constantinople introduced Byzantine-style painting to Russia after its conversion to Christianity in 988 AD. Since the vast majority of Russian churches were made of wood, not stone, mosaics and frescoes were not part of the tradition. Consequently icons played an important role in prayer and were called upon to depict everything needed for an Orthodox church.

Windows to Heaven: Treasures from the Museum of Russian Icons beautifully complements Maryhill Museum of Art’s own collection of Russian icons, a portion of which is on permanent view. Much of Maryhill’s Russian icon collection once belonged to Queen Marie of Romania. Queen Marie’s mother was devoutly Russian Orthodox and, as a result, despite being raised as a Protestant herself, Marie retained a lifelong interest in the symbolism and ceremony associated with Orthodox icons.

The Museum of Russian Icons was founded by collector Gordon Lankton, who, after 40 trips to the former Soviet Union amassed more than 340 icons dating from the 15th to the 21st century. Located in central Massachusetts, it is the only museum in the United States dedicated exclusively to Russian icons.

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