Home > CCI Newsletter > CCI Newsletter 27 > Icons of the Basilian
   Fathers Restored


Icons of the Basilian Fathers Restored

   
   Icon of Saint John the Evangelist before (left) and after (right)
   treatment. Icon of Saint John the Evangelist before (left) and after


   Icon of Saint John the Evangelist before (left) and after (right)
   treatment. Icon of Saint John the Evangelist before (left) and after
   (right) treatment.


   Icon of Saint John the Evangelist before (left) and after (right)
   treatment.


   Among the wide range of objects that CCI has treated over the years
   are six religious icons of rare beauty that belong to the Order of St.
   Basil the Great (commonly called the Basilian Fathers).


   the Mobile Laboratory visited the museum to assess the condition of
   some of its icons. Most of these religious paintings on wood had been
   acquired by a Basilian priest, Father Josaphat Jean, a scholar and


   acquired by a Basilian priest, Father Josaphat Jean, a scholar and
   collector of Ukrainian ecclesiastical art. By 1986 the icons were
   suffering various amounts of damage.


   The building of a new museum in 1990 resulted in another visit by CCI
   a couple of years later. At this time six valuable icons were selected
   for treatment by Senior Conservator Peter Vogel. The oldest of these


   for treatment by Senior Conservator Peter Vogel. The oldest of these
   icons dated to the mid-16th century.

   Peter says the approach to treating icons "is completely different
   than paintings on wood because of their religious and historical


   Take for example the icon of Saint John the Evangelist, an
   18th-century panel of tempera on wood. There are bullet holes across


   18th-century panel of tempera on wood. There are bullet holes across
   the icon, some Cyrillic lettering on both sides of the Saint's head,
   and damage around the edges. There is also evidence that, at some


   with some kind of plate. Peter points out that it is also common for
   icons to sustain damage from being handled repeatedly, moved from
   place to place, and exposed to the smoke of burning candles and


   The treatment plan for this icon was worked out in consultation with
   Dagmar Rais (curator of the museum) and the Basilian Fathers. It was


   should be left untouched because they form an important part of the
   icon's history and value, but water damage along the bottom and other
   stains from handling over the years should be treated.


   Peter states that he feels "privileged" to have been involved in the
   treatment of the icons (a few of which were treated under his guidance
   by private conservators on contract). In reference to Saint John the


   by private conservators on contract). In reference to Saint John the
   Evangelist, he says "the icon has regained its unity and its artistic
   and liturgical messages have been preserved." "More importantly," he