List of oldest Russian icons

This is the complete list of the oldest extant Russian icons created in Kievan Rus' and the Rus' principalities before and during the reign of Alexander Nevsky (1220–63).

1000–1130

Image Name and date Provenance Current location
Rus'-Byzantine icons
(possibly painted by Greek artists in Kievan Rus)
Saviour in a Golden Riza
c. 1050
(overpainted in 1699)
Saint Sophia Cathedral in Novgorod Dormition Cathedral, Moscow
Saints Peter and Paul
c. 1050
(partly overpainted in the 16th century)
Saint Sophia Cathedral in Novgorod Novgorod Art Museum
Saint George // Hodegetria
(double-sided)
c. 1100
Yuriev Monastery
Dormition Cathedral, Moscow
Dormition Cathedral, Moscow
Theotokos of Vladimir
c. 1100
Dormition Cathedral, Vladimir
Dormition Cathedral, Moscow
State Tretyakov Gallery
(Church of St. Nicholas in Tolmachi)

1130–1200

Image Name and date Provenance Current location
Icons of Novgorod
Ustyug Annunciation,
c. 1130
Yuriev Monastery

Cathedral of the Annunciation

State Tretyakov Gallery
Saint George
c. 1130
Yuriev Monastery State Tretyakov Gallery
The Sign
(double-sided)
c. 1150
Saint Sophia Cathedral in Novgorod Saint Sophia Cathedral in Novgorod
The Mandylion
(double-sided)
c. 1180
Dormition Cathedral, Moscow Tretyakov Gallery
The Angel with Golden Hair Rumyantsev Museum State Russian Museum
Eleusa Dormition Cathedral, Moscow State Tretyakov Gallery
Saint Nicholas
c. 1200
Novodevichy Convent State Tretyakov Gallery
Icons of Vladimir-Suzdal
Theotokos of Bogolyubovo
1155
Bogolyubovo Convent of Princesses,
Vladimir
Our Lady of Saint Theodore
// Saint Paraskevi
(double-sided)
Gorodets-on-the-Volga
(Alexander Nevsky's family)
Theophany Monastery, Kostroma
Deesis with the Archangels
1180s?
Dormition Cathedral, Moscow State Tretyakov Gallery

1200–1250

Image Name and date Provenance Current location
Icons of Vladimir and Suzdal
Deesis with John the Baptist and the Virgin Dormition Cathedral, Moscow State Tretyakov Gallery
Saint Michael Appearing to Joshua
1190s? 1210s?
Dormition Cathedral, Moscow Dormition Cathedral, Moscow
Demetrius of Thessaloniki
1190s? 1210s?
Dormition Cathedral, Dmitrov
(a gift from Vsevolod III)
State Tretyakov Gallery
Saviour of Golden Locks
(Christ Chalkites)
c. 1200
Dormition Cathedral, Moscow
(probably brought from Yaroslavl)
Dormition Cathedral, Moscow
Icons of Yaroslavl and Rostov
Orans of Yaroslavl
(Great Panagia)
c. 1220
Dormition Cathedral, Yaroslavl State Tretyakov Gallery
Saviour of Yaroslavl
(Christ Pantocrator)
c. 1220
Dormition Cathedral, Yaroslavl Yaroslavl Art Museum
Michael the Archangel
c. 1220
Archangel Cathedral, Yaroslavl State Tretyakov Gallery
The Mandylion Novlenskoye
(near Poshekhonye)
State Tretyakov Gallery
Christ Pantocrator
c. 1250
Gavshinka Church
near Yaroslavl
Andrei Rublev Museum
(Andronikov Monastery)
Theotokos of Tolga Enthroned Tolga Monastery,
Yaroslavl
State Tretyakov Gallery
Theotokos of Kashin St. Demetrius Monastery, Kashin Kalyazin Art Museum
Icons of Novgorod and Belozersk
The Cloud Dormition
c. 1200
Monastery of the Tithes,
Novgorod
State Tretyakov Gallery
Our Lady of the Sign
// Saint Juliana
Zverin Monastery,
Novgorod
Pavel Korin's collection
at the Tretyakov Gallery
Eleusa of Staraya Russa Staraya Russa State Russian Museum
Theotokos of Belozersk
c. 1220
Belozersk Cathedral State Russian Museum
Saints Peter and Paul Church of Sts. Peter and Paul
Belozersk
State Russian Museum
St. John Climacus
with Sts. George and Blaise
c. 1250
Krestsy near Novgorod State Russian Museum

See also

Sources

  • В. Д. Сарабьянов, Э. С. Смирнова. История древнерусской живописи. М., ПСТГУ, 2007.