“St. Nicholas the Wonderworker” icon from Chernihiv region (late 17th c.)

(in commemoration of the 95th anniversary of the National Preserve “Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra”)

Dear friends!

“Artistic Heritage” section continues to acquaint you with the collection of icons from the Fund collection of the National Preserve “Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra”.

The peculiar feature of this collection is stylistic and iconographic diversity of the icons that compose it. “St. Nicholas the Wonderworker” icon from Chernihiv region, which was painted in the late 17th century, occupies somewhat special place in the collection and is characterized by the unconventional approach to the interpretation of the image. (KPL-Zh-2478).

The icon was painted on wood in oil-and-tempera mixed technique. At one time it was located in the bottom (Sovereign) row of the iconostasis.

St. Nicholas is depicted in life-size against the backdrop of a panoramic landscape. His right hand is raised in a blessing gesture, his left hand holds a paterissa. A similar iconographic solution occurs in the Ukrainian iconography and engraving of the mid-17th and 18th centuries. The Saint is depicted in a bishop's robe, decorated with gold embroidery and stones. The bright red color of the sakkos is unusual for the iconographic image of the Saint. On his right there is a castle, the shape of which is typical for the Western European architecture. On his left one can observe a red-domed church. The elegant floral pattern of the carved background of the icon gently combines gilding and silvering techniques.

Prepared by Olena Pitateleva 
Senior research associate
Research Division of tudying Artistic Heritage of National Preserve “Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra”

Captions to the illustrations:
1. “St. Nicholas the Wonderworker” icon. Late 17th century. Chernihiv region. Wood, tempera, oil, carving. (KPL-F-2478)