This book is one I wish I had thirty years ago. Then, it was difficult to find suitable patterns and models for icons. Here (with Volumes I and II) are almost 400 tracings of antique icons that are not the 'classics' found in all albums of Russian icons, but rather represent iconography as it was known at the end of the nineteenth century when there was a 'return to basics.' At the beginning of the twentieth century, people did not know what classic Russian icons looked like. Genuine icons were not accessible since old icons were painted over or were locked away in royal churches and chapels. Many icons were covered with elaborate jeweled covers revealing only the faces and hands. These current volumes contain patterns which have been completely redone, “translated,” if you will, to make them more useful. The originals were printed in reverse, without test or explanations, apart from the Russian Titles. Explanations and commentary have been added.
These drawings are not designed for icons. Rather, the Sketchbooks present an “idea” as “studio” books. They should be used with other resources, including the classic pattern books previously published (e.g. An Iconographer’s Patternbook; An Icon Painter’s Notebook; The Painter’s Manual of Dionysius of Fourna) and other texts such as The Meaning of Icons; Icon: Image of the Invisible; The Icon: Window on the Kingdom, and other readings. Most of the “model” saints, St Blaise for example, are represented in this set and hopefully will be useful. I sincerely hope that this new edition of Postnikov and Tyulin collections will be an inspiration to my fellow icon painters and aid the painting of modern traditional orthodox icons. – Gregory Melnick, the author
Also available from SVS Press: An Iconographer’s Patternbook: The Stroganov Tradition and An Iconographer’s Sketchbook, Vol. I: The Postnikov Collection.
2 Reviews
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An Iconographer's Sketchbook, Vol II: The Tyulin Collection
“These Sketchbooks (Volume I and II, published separately) are from collections of ancient icons, and were published in Russia in the late nineteenth century, during a ‘return to basics’ movement in Iconography. Modern iconographers are thankful for the family of the Uspenskys who made tracings of the Postnikov and Tyulin icon collections. This current publication is essential for icon painters and students of iconography. Having these works with Gregory Melnick’s comments in English enables icon painters to have more icon models to guide them.”
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An Iconographer's Sketchbook, Vol II: The Tyulin Collection
“To be an iconographer, you must copy. To learn the tradition of iconography, you must simply copy initially. You will never go wrong if you copy a good model. Eventually the Holy Spirit adds to your skill and experience and then you will develop your own ‘style.’ This ‘style’ is the product of prayer and study, painting of many icons, and obedience to the tradition. It doesn’t sprout fully formed with your first icons.”
