Iconography of Ancient Russia was sacred.The whole creative process are subject to strict canonical regulations.On the one hand, impoverished iconography of ancient Russia, as the master used already given iconography.However, at the same time, it allows you to focus on the "essence of the subject of spirituality", focusing on deep penetration into the image and the process of rebuilding it with exquisite artistic means.
Old Russian icon painting obeys the law not only in the art of the image, but also in the choice of material for him.Established techniques traditionally used in the method of surface preparation for image composition of soil preparation technology paints.Iconography of Ancient Russia presupposes a mandatory sequence of letters.
Writing image by paints, the binder components are tempera (aqueous emulsion with egg yolk).The basis is usually used wooden boards.Preparing to write the board was quite lengthy and time-consuming.We chose a log with a very strong inner layer.Manufacture boards for icons engaged derevschiki (drevodely), painters themselves did so very rarely.
Icons small size written on a blackboard.For large images using multiple boards connected with each other.
On the front of the board cut out middle recess (Ark).He created a kind of window.Along the edges formed with the frame (field).
By the nature of mounting boards, the depth of the ark, the width of the field is often possible to determine the place and time of manufacture of the board.On ancient icons (ages 11-12) the ark, as a rule, made deep and wide field.Later, the board did with narrow margins.Since the 14th century, you can find icons and borderless.
Grunt served gesso.It is a mixture of alabaster and chalk with fish (sturgeon) glue.Board several times coat with glue (liquid and hot), and then it was applied pavoloka (cloth), lapping palm.Levkas was applied after drying pavoloka.Primer was applied in several layers.Its surface is carefully leveled, sometimes polished.In some cases, the relief applied.
image is applied to the prepared surface of the soil.Iconography of Ancient Russia assumed gradual patterning.At first light touch of soft coal from birch twigs drawn the first image.The second drawing, carried out more detailed paint (brown or black).
Sometimes masters used "recipe", derived from the icons, serve as a model.Thus reproduced image.
then started writing.The first phase was carried out "ozolochenie" all the necessary details, then produced "dolichnoe" letter (written structure, clothing, landscape).Images of faces was carried out at the final stage.Strict sequence was in use with paints.
Writing icons carried out according to the guidelines ("scripts").They contain information about the technology of letters or otherwise.
It should be noted that according to its internal and external organization of the icon was a complex work of art.However, in the 19th century to the icon painters were treated as second-class artists, assuming that primitive icon.Ancient masters accused of ignorance of the techniques of creating direct perspective and of human anatomy.At the same time the icon is the result of virtuoso technique and the high culture of the image.Using tempera painting require special skills, who learned over many years of study.
Painters Ancient Russia perceived the letter as an act of communication with the other world.It took a physical and spiritual cleansing.
about the masters of antiquity to have survived little information.However, the historical evidence of the page, the field and turns the icons, the walls of ancient temples keep the names of icon.Among them should be called a monk Alimpiya, his contemporaries Stephen Gaga, Sezhira, Radko.One of the most famous icons of "Trinity" written by Andrei Rublev.
