Rare Orthodox Christian icons available for public viewing

Russian icon of Christ Pantocrator
Download photo
caption below

"Spirit Made Tangible: The Scheuring Icon Collection" will be presented in the Purdue Memorial Union's Robert L. Ringel Gallery. The collection, part of a gift to the university made last fall by Katherine "Betsy" Scheuring, includes 132 Russian and Ethiopian religious icons that range from the 17th century to the 21st century.

Russian iconography combines theological, aesthetic and technical features into powerful and intimate objects of beauty and devotion that are used in church liturgy or private households, said Craig Martin, director of Purdue Galleries. Icons' roots are in Byzantine culture and history, and Eastern Orthodox icons often portray Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, and numerous saints and martyrs. The majority are painted in egg tempera on wood panel, and some are enclosed by a metal casing called a riza (pronounced REE-za) that protects the image.

Icon of St. George slaying the Dragon
Download photo
caption below

"Mrs. Scheuring has made it possible for a wide audience to have access to these icons," Martin said. "Whether they are spiritually inspired by the images, curious to learn more about Russia's political history or captivated by the fine craftsmanship, visitors should find a strong appeal in the display."

At 5:30 p.m. Nov. 1, art historian David Parrish will present a lecture in the Memorial Union's East Faculty Lounge. Parrish and a team of student researchers have compiled information and composed comments that will be included in a catalogue on the Russian icons. A reception in the Ringel Gallery will follow the lecture.

"There is an undeniable visual power to icons, a magnetic force that captures our attention and brings us into the special atmosphere inhabited by the figures shown," Parrish said.

The icons in the Purdue collection represent a range of subjects often depicted in Byzantine icons. Some of these examples include representations of the Virgin Mary as the "Theotokos" or "Mother of God," who embodies both the divine and human aspects of her son, Jesus Christ, Parrish said. Other major categories of icons include images of Christ, the savior of humankind in Orthodox belief; individual saints in the Orthodox calendar or groups of these figures; representations of angels; Old Testament episodes and apocryphal Christians; and calendars of feast days in the Orthodox faith.

Sources: Craig Martin, (765) 494-3061, cdmartin@purdue.edu

David Parrish, (765) 494-2760, dparrish@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

Related Web sites:
Purdue College of Liberal Arts

Related news release:
Liberal Arts announces gift of religious icons to Purdue Galleries

PHOTO CAPTION:
This Russian icon of Christ Pantocrator is one of 132 icons Katherine "Betsy" Scheuring gave to Purdue Galleries' permanent collection. Scheuring, a longtime Indianapolis resident and ballet instructor, has collected Russian and Ethiopian icons since the 1970s. This icon is an oil painting on panel with silver riza, and was made during the second half of 19th century. (Photo provided by Purdue Galleries)

A publication-quality photo is available at https://www.purdue.edu/uns/uns/images/+2005/icons-russ1.jpg

PHOTO CAPTION:
This Russian icon shows an image from the story of St. George Slaying the Dragon. The icon, which is painted with egg tempera on a panel, is part of the 132 icons Katherine "Betsy" Scheuring gave to Purdue Galleries' permanent collection. (Photo provided by Purdue Galleries)

A publication-quality photo is available at https://www.purdue.edu/uns/uns/images/+2005/icons-russ2.jpg

To the News Service home page