The icon depicting St. Tikhon Lukhovskoy was created in the early 20th century. The artist employed the traditions of Russian realistic painting.
He portrayed the Monk Tikhon on the high river bank. The opposite bank, low and swampy, is barely visible in the background. The artist carefully painted the grass and flowers in the foreground, emphasized the curves of the river running away into the distance, and skillfully depicted the path that descends from the hillock to the small chapel. The artist used oil paints for the landscape.
The Monk Tikhon is painted in full height. The master depicted him in monastic robes with folds painted as vibrantly as the surrounding landscape. Their volumes were modelled with light and shade. Where bright light falls on a dark vestment, the artist applied gold.
Due to the realistic nature of the oil landscape, one can mistake the work for a secular portrait. There are, however, some details that squarely define the artist’s work as an icon. Tikhon’s figure is depicted from the front only, his eyes are wide open, his gaze is piercing, and his face is painted with egg tempera. The creation of faces required a special skill that was completely different from traditional painting. The faces in the icons are painted with several very thin layers of egg paint overlapped in a special way.
Official records do not have the name of this icon’s author. The researchers suggest that Sergei Karpychev might have been its author. Several of Sergei’s artworks are in the museum’s collection, and they are remarkably similar in technique and execution to this icon.
The memory of Tikhon Lukhovskoy is especially dear to the residents of Palekh because his relics rest in the Nikolayevsky Tikhonov monastery near the town of Lukh, just 40 kilometers from Palekh.
Tikhon wasn’t, however, born of these lands. He came from the lands that used to belong to the Lithuanian prince in 15th century. The monk was born in the first half of the 15th century. In the secular world, he bore the name Timofey.
When he was young, he was drafted into military service by Kazimir Litovsky. His education and his strong orthodox christian beliefs which he held onto in a catholic country of Lithuania have garnered attention of prince Fyodor Belsky. The prince has later sided with the Prince of Moscow, cojoining the lands under their rule. Timofey came to Moscow with him and entered the service of Ivan III.
Fyodor Belsky quickly fell into disgrace and was exiled to the remote northeastern regions of Moscow Rus. Timothy left his post and, having taken monastic tonsure, set off after the disgraced prince. Once he became a monk, he was henceforth known as Tikhon.
Tikhon walked along the roads to Kineshma and Galich, therefore his memory is especially revered here. Finally, he reached a place that suited him — it was a place among the swamps and dense forests, three verstas [~2 miles] away from Lukh. Here he lived in a secluded cell. Soon other hermits began to settle next to him. At the same time, Fyodor Belsky got back into the Tzar’s good graces. He presented Tikhon with land for the construction of a monastery at the confluence of two rivers — Luha and Vozopoli.
Tikhon passed away in 1503. When his relics were discovered in 1569, the people started holding celebrations to honor his memory. He soon became an all-Russian saint.
He portrayed the Monk Tikhon on the high river bank. The opposite bank, low and swampy, is barely visible in the background. The artist carefully painted the grass and flowers in the foreground, emphasized the curves of the river running away into the distance, and skillfully depicted the path that descends from the hillock to the small chapel. The artist used oil paints for the landscape.
The Monk Tikhon is painted in full height. The master depicted him in monastic robes with folds painted as vibrantly as the surrounding landscape. Their volumes were modelled with light and shade. Where bright light falls on a dark vestment, the artist applied gold.
Due to the realistic nature of the oil landscape, one can mistake the work for a secular portrait. There are, however, some details that squarely define the artist’s work as an icon. Tikhon’s figure is depicted from the front only, his eyes are wide open, his gaze is piercing, and his face is painted with egg tempera. The creation of faces required a special skill that was completely different from traditional painting. The faces in the icons are painted with several very thin layers of egg paint overlapped in a special way.
Official records do not have the name of this icon’s author. The researchers suggest that Sergei Karpychev might have been its author. Several of Sergei’s artworks are in the museum’s collection, and they are remarkably similar in technique and execution to this icon.
The memory of Tikhon Lukhovskoy is especially dear to the residents of Palekh because his relics rest in the Nikolayevsky Tikhonov monastery near the town of Lukh, just 40 kilometers from Palekh.
Tikhon wasn’t, however, born of these lands. He came from the lands that used to belong to the Lithuanian prince in 15th century. The monk was born in the first half of the 15th century. In the secular world, he bore the name Timofey.
When he was young, he was drafted into military service by Kazimir Litovsky. His education and his strong orthodox christian beliefs which he held onto in a catholic country of Lithuania have garnered attention of prince Fyodor Belsky. The prince has later sided with the Prince of Moscow, cojoining the lands under their rule. Timofey came to Moscow with him and entered the service of Ivan III.
Fyodor Belsky quickly fell into disgrace and was exiled to the remote northeastern regions of Moscow Rus. Timothy left his post and, having taken monastic tonsure, set off after the disgraced prince. Once he became a monk, he was henceforth known as Tikhon.
Tikhon walked along the roads to Kineshma and Galich, therefore his memory is especially revered here. Finally, he reached a place that suited him — it was a place among the swamps and dense forests, three verstas [~2 miles] away from Lukh. Here he lived in a secluded cell. Soon other hermits began to settle next to him. At the same time, Fyodor Belsky got back into the Tzar’s good graces. He presented Tikhon with land for the construction of a monastery at the confluence of two rivers — Luha and Vozopoli.
Tikhon passed away in 1503. When his relics were discovered in 1569, the people started holding celebrations to honor his memory. He soon became an all-Russian saint.
