Windows into Heaven: Russian Icons of the Brown Collection

In North America, Russian icons are not often seen as distinct from other religious artefacts. Yet, while the art of the Byzantine Empire and its affiliation with the Orthodox Church did influence the look of Russian icons, and Russian artists initially followed Byzantine icon guidelines in their production, they focused on optimistic rather than tragic images. By examining the crucifixion scene on three Russian icons from the Brown Collection at the University of Victoria Art Collections, this article explores the distinct use and importance of icons to the Russian people.