Byzantine and Russian Orthodox icons are perhaps the most enduring form ofreligious art ever developedand one of the most mysterious. This bookfeaturing the pai... » 

Byzantine and Russian Orthodox icons are perhaps the most enduring form ofreligious art ever developedand one of the most mysterious. This bookfeaturing the painted panels made for churches and for prayer at home providesan accessible guide to their story and power. Illustrated mostly with CretanGreek and Russian examples from the British Museum which houses Britainsmost important collection of icons the book examines icons in the context ofthe history of Christianity as well as within the perspective of art history.Robin Cormack a preeminent expert on the subject explains how icons weremade framed and displayed. He investigates their subject matter showing howscenes can be identified how the iconography developed over centuries andwhat role portraiture plays in their imagery. Icons have not lost their powerin much of the world and Cormack considers their continuing use in our daywhether in a religious setting or as an inspiration to modernday artists likeMatisse.A uniquely accessible and authoritative introduction to this distinctive artform Icons defines its subjects unusual place at the intersection ofreligion Russian culture and art history. «