School Program

IPSS’08

Icon-Painting Workshop (instructor Pavlo Petrushak)

Pavlo Petrushak is one of the best experts on the traditional technique of local Western-Ukrainian icon painting. Since 1971 he has been working as a restorer and an expert in medieval Ukrainian iconography at th Lviv National Museum. Together with a group of colleagues he has been involved in extencive national and international research, restoration and preservation projects in Ukraine, Russia and Poland. Currently he is a staff member of the Icon Museum of Volyn’ in Lutsk.

Course description:

In this course we will approach iconography from the standpoint of its historical traditions as they are reflected in the late-medieval Western Ukrainian school of icon painting (XIV-XVI cc.). Our examination of authentic pieces of iconography from this period will be based on in-depth scientific study conducted by the lecturer since 1971. The method employed is that of creative appropriation of authentic ancient icon-painting techniques through imitation of some exemplary ancient icons or their fragments. It is crucial to understand that by imitation we mean not mechanical copying, but scrupulous analysis of the original, understanding of the inner principles of the creation of the icon, and attempt to re-create the original painting technique. The artistic and scientific analysis of the icon will be done during the theoretical part of the course (see syllabus). It will include: a close look at the unique artistic features of individual icons, comparison of the creative methods of diverse authors, researching of material structure (paint constituents, minerals, pigments) by magnifying the image up to 100 times. Then students will try to re-create selected icons. This year we offer our students the opportunity to paint a full-figure image. The second year program (for those who wish to continue) will allow students to move on to more detailed, multi-figure compositions, as well as more detail and elaborate representations such as the Holy Face or Mother of God with Child.

Icon-Painting classes last 50 hours total

All students will be divided on two groups – beginners and advanced level. The artistic skills of the participant will be taken into account and the application form will define in which group the student needs to be placed. Each group will have an experienced instructor of iconography.

Theoretical cources

1. Theology of the Icon

Course duration: 22 hours (4 credits)

Description: This unit will examine the theology and history of pictorial art in the Church of Byzantine tradition. Emphasis will be given to the Eastern Christian understanding of "icon". The basis of this understanding will be located in Scripture and patristic thought. The development of artistic styles will be traced with reference to their theological basis. A comparative study will be made between the main trends of Eastern and Western religious art.

2. Seminar: Lives of the Saints in icons of Ukrainian Christian tradition

Description: The main aim of the course is to deepen our knowledge about iconography of the icon that is called in Ukrainian “zhytijna” (living). On such an icon besides the representation of the saint are also depicted most important fragments from his/her life that finally lead him/her to holiness. Mostly we will use examples from Ukrainian heritage of the ancient sacred art and with its help take a closer look at the saints that were really popular among Ukrainian churchpeople.

I hope that this course will become a possibility of an acquaintance not only with ancient Ukrainian icon but also with literature and liturgical sources that usually were used as a foundation of iconography, especially of that living one, and with a historical background in which certain theological and art traditions in Ukraine were developing.

The main part of the course will be dedicated to understanding of the iconographical types of the saints that were rooted in Ukrainian culture through centuries, as for example patrons of the land: St. Andrew, Volodymyr and Olha, blessed prince and princess of Kyiv, Borys and Hlib, saint George; or as protectors of the people: John the Baptist, st. Nicholas; also as guides of church and monastic life: St. Basil the Great, St. John Chrysostom, Anthony and Theodosius of Pechersk and so on.

But at the same time we will pay attention to some cults that are not so widely known nowadays, although during Ukrainian history they played an important role in Ukrainian Christian tradition, but have lost their importance, perishing somewhere among the innumerous legions of heavenly saints during the more than one thousand year history of Ukrainian Christianity. These are St. Parasceve of Tyrnov, Elijah the prophet, St. Onufrij, Cosmas and Damian, St. Mary of Egypt and many others.

I hope that after this course its participants will get better understanding of the history of the Ukrainian Christian culture that was permanently guided by saints and holy patrons of the land and of the church. And at the same time will open for themselves unknown pages in the book of everlasting living Ukrainian tradition and faith through the better view on wonderful icons, written with virtuosity of the master, with real and sincere belief in God’s blessing, with a wish to become closer to the people that in their earthly lives were honored by the Eternal Glory of Heaven.

3. L’viv Excursions

L’viv is a charming and dynamically growing city with rich history and cultural traditions. Church architecture and religious art is an integral part of city’s legacy. Therefore, the students of the Summer School of Icon-Painting will be introduced to most exquisite and precious examples of artistic, historical and religious art in daily trips to churches, monasteries, museums, art schools, and restoration laboratories, in which history meets present.

Since the City of L’viv is located in the heart of Europe , it has always stood at crossroads of cultures absorbing and transforming various artistic components of East and West. One will find in L’viv churches and religious centers of Eastern Orthodoxy, Roman and Byzantine Catholicism, Armenian tradition, Judaism and Islam. In less than an hour, a visitor will see most of the architectural styles that range from Gothic and Renaissance, to Classicism and Baroque, to Old and Neo-Byzantine (Cubist) trends. L’viv is renowned for its slightly less than a millennium old iconographical school, which is carefully studied, restored, mimicked and deconstructed in several schools of sacred art. To name just a few, these are Ivan Trush Art School , Academy of Arts with the department of Sacred Art and Icon-Restoration, Ukrainian Catholic University with Icon-Painting School , and multiple individual and small circles of iconographers and painters.

Even if the saying goes “les goûts different,” we believe that in our excursions every artistic taste will be satisfied.