Dear friends!

We continue to acquaint you with the Artistic Heritage of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. Today we are going to introduce the icon “St. John the Forerunner in the Desert” (1860s-1870s) to your attention (KPL-Zh-1440).

The icon was made as a replica of the Hermitage painting “St. John the Baptist in the Desert”, which, in turn, is the copy of the painting made by the unknown artist of the 17th century. That painter made his copy from the original artwork of the famous Spanish painter Bartolomeo Murillo, which is stored in the National Gallery in London.

If you look at the icon from the Fund collection of the National Kyiv-Pechersk Historical and Cultural Preserve, you will see the young John the Forerunner with his attribute - a cane cross, wrapped in a ribbon. The ribbon has the Latin inscription: “Ecce Agnus Dei” (Here is the Lamb of God). In the background of the icon there is a beautiful landscape. Crystal-white top of the snow-covered mountain together with the barely visible spurs of the distanced mountains invitingly lead our view to the horizon. This piece of land, shining with unearthly light and purity, and a small “island” of blue sky that freed itself from the clouds, seem to have a silent dialogue.

The author of the Lavra iconic copy is not inclined to reach, like the Spanish maestro, the illusive effect in the description of the silky fur of a lamb. For the icon painter, the Lamb is the symbol of Christ, without any touch of admiration for him. The artist also did not try to embody the psychological nuances in the face of the Forerunner, which meant so much for the fans of Murillo. While making the copy of the painting created by the Catholic master, the Orthodox artist tried to draw it in the traditions of the icon-painting. This can be seen in the specific techniques he used to represent the color of flesh cheeks and reach the proper image of eyes, eyelids and eyebrows.

In 1860–1870, Alypius I, the Hierodeacon of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, repeatedly copied the works of prominent paint masters from St. Petersburg’s Hermitage. He had the intention to donate 337 different works to the school of painting. Therefore, it is quite probable that “St. John the Forerunner” icon-replica from the Preserve belongs to the brush of Alypius I.

In 2004 it was restored at the National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture.

Caption to the illustration:

Hierodeacon Alypius 1st (?). “St. John the Forerunner in the Desert” Icon,
1860s – 1870s (KPL-Zh-1440).

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