Dear Friends!

We continue to acquaint you with the Artistic Heritage of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, in particular with the painting of the Church of Sts. Anthony and Theodosius of Pechersk (the Refectory Church) of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.

In the early 20th century, the interpretation of the archangels’ images in the dome composition of the Refectory Church was associated with the work of two artists. Iconography and symbols became the intellectual contribution of Viktor Fartusov. The Ecclesiastical Council intended to entrust this specialist to develop the decorative project of the Refectory Chamber before the appointment of Oleksiy Shchusev to this place.

However, the talented artistic presentation of the iconographic scheme is indisputable merit of Ivan Izhakevych. Each archangel holds in hands his own attribute. Thus, Gabriel is depicted with a round stone onyx mirror and a glowing lantern. Raphael, the Holy Archangel, the physician of human ailments, holds in his left hand an alabastron with medicine (a round liturgical vessel with an elongated neck without a handle to preserve myrrh), and a quill in his right hand for anointing wounds. A lamp with a burning flame is depicted in the left hand of the archangel Uriel. Artist put the branches of charming fresh roses in hands of the archangel Barachiel. The emotional liveliness that the author brings to the interpretation of attributes of this archangel represented by flowering branches, fills the bouquet with a new ideological and artistic content. Ivan Izhakevych delicately “articulates” the roses of Barachiel in art nouveau aesthetics. This is not a compromise between religious and creative tasks, but their mutual enrichment and merging.

Archangel's wings form a flat light background of the dome. On this background the artist carefully depicts the canonical attributes, such as the ripidia of Michael (liturgical fan in the form of a metal or wooden circle, rhombus or star on a long handle), the thong and crown of Yehudiel, and a sword in Uriel's right hand.

The archangel Salathiel is featured without any specific attributes. Viktor Fartusov gives the following description of Salathiel in the Guidance on Writing Icons: “Archangel the Prayer... is always written with lowered face, downcast eyes, and arms crossed on his chest”. In this way, Ivan Izhakevych painted this character in the dome of the Refectory Church.

Comparing the archangels painted by Ivan Izhakevych with angels in the works of artists of that time, we can see that beautiful faces of the angels by Viktor Vasnetsov seem more courageous than those painted by Izhakevych. More similarities are observed in the archangels with the angels by Mykhailo Nesterov (this is about the interpretation of bright little lips on pale faces). The lines of connection of the Archangels’ representation of the Lavra artist can also be found in the works of late English Pre-Raphaelites - Stradwick and Burne-Jones.

The text was prepared by Olena Pitateleva, the senior research worker

Research Division for the Study of Artistic Heritage

Picture captions

Fig. 1. Ivan Izhakevych. Archangel Gabriel. Paintings of the Dome in Sts. Anthony and Theodosius of Pechersk Church (the Refectory Church) of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.

Fig. 2. Ivan Izhakevych. Archangel Barachiel. Paintings of the Dome in Sts. Anthony and Theodosius of Pechersk Church (the Refectory Church) of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.

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