By Andrey Fiodorov
The exhibition features icons, books and copper castings from the museum at Rumyantsev-Paskevich Palace and from private collections. The icons represent various painting traditions, but are united by the common theme of Jesus Christ and the Mother of God — central to Christian art.
Since the museum’s establishment, it has been collecting icons and religious items. Articles from the chapel of the Paskevich family were the first in the collection, with others added over time, showing the diversity of icon-painting traditions within the Gomel Region. Orthodox icons are seemingly simple, having folk naivety, as is representative of national philosophy, yet are executed with great skill. Old Believers’ icons, created in the region, follow ancient Russian traditions from the 17th-early 20th century.
Visitors to the exhibition can learn about the restoration works being carried out, with some recently restored icons on display in a separate hall.
