The Tikhvin Mother of God, c. 1660.
James & Tatiana Jackson Collection.

This project is supported by the Kansas Arts Commission, a state agency, and by the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

The icon may well be the quintessential symbol of Russian history and culture. More than a religious painting, the icon is a sacred object that was kept in the homes of Russian peasants and royalty alike. Veneration of the holy figures (saints, angels, Christ, and the Virgin Mary) depicted on icons was a vital part of Russian daily life. Icons were gateways to prayer, guardians of homes and cities, and the source of miraculous healings and blessings.

This collection of 71 hand-painted icons from the Romanov era captures the mystery and majesty of the Russian spirit.

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