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Responses:
Subject: Icons
From: Adam
Date: 06 Jun 1998 1:37 AM
Try a library. There are a number of good art books on the subject of Icons. I also liked the movie "Alexie Rubliev" about the greatest painter of icons in medieval Russia. It's more a great film than an informative work, but it gives a sense of how modern Russians look at the icons
Subject: Icons
From: Bob
Date: 06 Jun 1998 5:07 PM
Some time ago I built a website on the history and craft of ikon painting at http://www.pallasweb.com/ikons - the site may provide you with some useful background information.Bob Atchison
Subject: Face in the Firewood
From: Michael
Date: 06 Jun 1998 12:03 AM
Just a comment. Wanted to say I thoroughly enjoyed the episode, "Face in the Firewood". After serving at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow from 1995-97 and seeing my share of icons in museums in Moscow, Vladimir, Suzdal, and Sergiyev Posad, I still found I had much to learn and learned a great deal from Mr. Billington's discussion of icons and their origins. His ability to focus in on and explain the key features of Russian culture, society and religion is noteworthy and enviable. I'm looking forward to the following episodes and want to express my appreciation for what I expect will be a marvelous series. Hats off also to the Open Society Institute for sponsoring this invaluable program.Vsego Dobrovo,Michael C. Keays
Subject: Icons
From: Nancy Wiggenhorn
Date: 06 Jun 1998 3:19 PM
I enjoyed the program as well; but was disappointed that it was advertised to be about Russian art and concentrated solely on icons. Since you spent time in Russia, you are aware, I am sure, that icons are one small part of Russian art. Of course, it would take an entire series on art alone to do it justice. My only complaint is that those who don't know better may believe that icon art is the only Russian art worth noting.
Subject: Icons
From: Karen Zill
Date: 06 Jun 1998 4:24 PM
Nancy:Thanks for your message reminding us that there is so much more to Russian art than icons. Unfortunately, with limited time it's not possible to cover all the topics we would like and so we have to make choices. As public television producers, we hope that the audience will be motivated to use our programs as a starting point for further exploration. I hope you'll take the time to visit the various parts of the Web site, some of which will point you to other kinds of Russian art. And I hope you'll watch the next 2 programs in The Face of Russia series, which will look at other arts, including architecture, literature, music, and cinema.
Subject: Russian Art
From: Mark L.
Date: 06 Jun 1998 9:19 PM
I also lived in Russia from 1995-1996. If you are interested in a diverse representation of Russian art, may I suggest that you visit the Russian Museum in St. Petersburg. It is a large museum which houses only Russian art from a wide variety of periods and styles. It is often overlooked in this home of the Hermitage, but it is a terrific place to spend a day. (Or two!)
Subject: Russian Film
From: Deidra
Date: 06 Jun 1998 2:37 AM
I would just like to note that I loved the bit on Russian film. It is most certainly a topic that I would enjoy studying in the future. It is a part of Russian culture that deserves a place in the spotlight.
Subject: Icons
From: Vanya
Date: 06 Jun 1998 12:11 PM
Kristen,If you are interested in the symbolism and themes of icons try Leonid Ouspensky and Vladimir Lossky, 'The Meaning of Icons'. It is an excellent resource for the importance of icons in Eastern Christianity. It discusses the history, liturgical significance, and development of iconography in the East Slavic area. Many fine BW and Color plates.
Leonid Ouspensky also wrote a more theological work, aptly titled 'Theology of the Icon' (2 vols.) It is a fine work, but if you are looking for a good overview, try 'The Meaning of Icons' first.
Billington's own 'The Icon and the Ax' is an enjoyable and informative read. I first read it when it was published in 1970, and it is still available. I was glad to see that many of the themes he has written about brought out and illustrated in this series.
If you read Russian there are some excellent works on individual icons and icon painters such as Andrey Rublev and his works (including his icon 'Troitsa'[Trinity]), Feofan Grek, and the various schools of icon painting, (Moskovskaya shkola ikonopici, Novgorodskaya shkola, etc...).
Hope this helps.
Subject: Iconography and Modern Art
From: Charlton Price
Date: 06 Jun 1998 4:53 PM
In the splendid first episode I found particularly intriguing the parallels Dr. Billington draws between the old iconographic conventions and forms or themes in the early 20th century Russian art (Kadinsky, etc.) This is discussed in much greater and fascinating detail in Billington's THE ICON AND THE AXE: An Interpretive History of Russian Culture (Vintage/Random House, 1970, paper).
Subject: Icon Paintings
From: Stephen Muratore
Date: 06 Jun 1998 1:00 AM
You might find this introduction helpful:http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Agora/8109/icons.htm