The work belongs to the StrOganov School of Iconography, which was formed in the late 16th–early 17th century in the Armory Chamber of the Moscow KrEmlin. It was marked by the increased interest in landscapes, masterly drawing, attention to the tiniest details, and bright clean colors. The school got its name thanks to the rich merchants and industrialists Stroganovs, great admirers of icon painting, who commissioned the works.
The icon from the collection of the NovosibIrsk State Art Museum is a typical Stroganov piece. The small format of the work, the utmost attention to details, the so-called ‘meticulous painting, ’ clean colors, generous gilding and rich ornamentation, make the Stroganov icons a real masterpiece.
Fyodor Lukich Stroganov, one of the dynasty’s founders, was a respected and rich man in the city of Veliky Novgorod. In 1470 he moved to Solvychegodskaya, which becomes some kind of “capital” for future generations of the Stroganovs. It is there that the first Stroganov-style icons were created, commissioned by the merchants to Moscow masters. Stroganov school has some artistic features that are revealed in “Dormition”.
This composition first appeared in BYzantIne art. Later it became popular both in ByzAntium and in Russia, obtaining many concise and more detailed versions. It is based on church chants, which reflect folklore motifs. The composition represents a bed with the dead Mother of God on it, Christ with the soul of the Mother of God resembling a swaddled figure, the apostles and saints, with buildings symbolizing the House of the Virgin Mary on the sides.
Among the most important Christian feasts, four are dedicated to the Mother of God. The church started to celebrate them around the 4th century. Canonical Gospels say little about the Mother of God. We know information about her from the so-called Apocrypha writings, that are non-canonical. According to Gregory of Tours and ancient calendars, the Dormition of the Mother of God became a feast in the 4th century. In Russia, the feast is especially revered along with the miraculous Dormition icons.
The icon from the collection of the NovosibIrsk State Art Museum is a typical Stroganov piece. The small format of the work, the utmost attention to details, the so-called ‘meticulous painting, ’ clean colors, generous gilding and rich ornamentation, make the Stroganov icons a real masterpiece.
Fyodor Lukich Stroganov, one of the dynasty’s founders, was a respected and rich man in the city of Veliky Novgorod. In 1470 he moved to Solvychegodskaya, which becomes some kind of “capital” for future generations of the Stroganovs. It is there that the first Stroganov-style icons were created, commissioned by the merchants to Moscow masters. Stroganov school has some artistic features that are revealed in “Dormition”.
This composition first appeared in BYzantIne art. Later it became popular both in ByzAntium and in Russia, obtaining many concise and more detailed versions. It is based on church chants, which reflect folklore motifs. The composition represents a bed with the dead Mother of God on it, Christ with the soul of the Mother of God resembling a swaddled figure, the apostles and saints, with buildings symbolizing the House of the Virgin Mary on the sides.
Among the most important Christian feasts, four are dedicated to the Mother of God. The church started to celebrate them around the 4th century. Canonical Gospels say little about the Mother of God. We know information about her from the so-called Apocrypha writings, that are non-canonical. According to Gregory of Tours and ancient calendars, the Dormition of the Mother of God became a feast in the 4th century. In Russia, the feast is especially revered along with the miraculous Dormition icons.
