The new exhibit Secret Symbolism: Decoding Color in Russian Icons opens January 7, 2014. Visitors can discover how various colors and tints enhance the meaning of these sacred paintings. Learning about the symbolism of the palette of colors typically used in icon “writing” cultivates a deeper understanding of the saints and legends the paintings portray. The age of the icons in the exhibit, selected from the Museum collection, ranges from the 15th through 19th centuries. The colors featured in the exhibit are gold, white, green, black and variations of red and blue. Though the exhibit highlights icons from different centuries, stylistic schools, and geographic regions, the use of color is remarkably consistent. Consequently, each color has been determined to represent a unique, corresponding meaning within the context of Russian Iconography.
Click Here to view an interactive demonstration of the secret symbolism of colors in Russian Icons. Click Here for more information about the exhibition.
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