Russian Icons

Russian icons are unique monuments of an ancient artistic tradition that originated in Kyivan Rus’ in 988 AD after the adoption of Christianity. The painting technique of Russian icons dates back to the Golden Age of Byzantine art, the style of which can still be traced today. The images of saints and holidays depicted on the first Russian icons have hardly changed over the centuries. According to the Orthodox faith, ancient Russian icons were inspired by God Himself. Icon painters fasted and prayed while working on icons and never signed their pieces. It is believed that some were painted by saints. Today, icons are still created by icon painters blessed for this work by a priest. Russian icons are valued around the world not only for their artistic merits but also for their influence on the development of Eastern European Orthodox culture.

Russian Icons

Being an emblematic and distinctive part of Russian culture, Russian icons are unique monuments of an ancient artistic tradition that originated in Kyivan Rus’ in 988 AD after the adoption of Christianity.

The painting technique of Russian icons dates back to the Golden Age of Byzantine art, the style of which can still be traced today. The images of saints and holidays depicted on the first Russian icons have hardly changed over the centuries. According to the Orthodox faith, ancient Russian icons were inspired by God Himself. Icon painters fasted and prayed while working on icons and never signed their pieces. It is believed that some were painted by saints. Today, icons are still created by icon painters blessed for this work by a priest. Russian icons are valued around the world not only for their artistic merits but also for their influence on the development of Eastern European Orthodox culture.

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Icons Collection

The Resurrection – The Harrowing of Hades, with the Holy Trinity and the Church Feasts…

Antique Russian icon. Last quarter – end of the 18th century. Palekh.…

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The Iconostasis (“The Image of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church”)

The Iconostasis (“The Image of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church”)…

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The Tikhvin Mother of God, with the Legend of the Icon in 16 border scenes

Antique Russian icon. Third quarter of the 19th century. Icon-painting centers of…

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John the Baptist – the Angel of the Desert, with 12 hagiographical border scenes

Antique Russian icon. End of the 18th – early 19th century. Central…

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Saint Sergius of Radonezh, with 16 hagiographical border scenes, in a silver oklad cover

Antique Russian icon: second half of the 19th century. Moscow region (possibly…

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The Resurrection – The Harrowing of Hades, with the Church Feasts and the Four Evangelists…

Antique Russian icon. Second half – end of the 19th century. Size:…

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The Resurrection of Christ, with Church Feasts in 12 border scenes

Antique Russian icon. End of the 19th – early 20th century. Size:…

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The Crucifixion, with the Passions of Christ and selected Church Feasts

Antique Russian icon. Third quarter of the 19th century. Palekh. Size: 44.5…

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The Resurrection – The Harrowing of Hades, with Church Feasts in 12 border scenes, Pentecost,…

Antique Russian icon: last quarter of the 19th century. Religious icon painting…

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The Resurrection – The Harrowing of Hades, with the Monogenis, the Church Feasts, and the…

The Resurrection – The Harrowing of Hades, with the Monogenis, the Church…

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About Us

Our project, founded by collector and entrepreneur Oleg Kushnirskiy, is dedicated to researching and promoting Russian Orthodox icons.

Oleg Kushnirskiy’s collection of Russian icons began to take shape in the United States during the 1990s. It comprises rare examples of Orthodox religious art from the 18th and 19th centuries, created in ancient icon painting traditions. Most of them come from icon-painting villages in the Vladimir region, such as Palekh, Mstyora, and Kholuy, while others come from the Old Believer communities of Guslitsy and Vetka, as well as workshops in central Russia. A special place in the collection belongs to small-sized icons decorated with miniature stamps. Among them are scenes of the Resurrection — The Harrowing of Hades, miracles, religious holidays, images of saints, and revered icons of the Mother of God.

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Saint Nicholas