In Ukraine, for the first time in world practice, a lost icon was recreated using medieval seals
In Ukraine, for the first time in the world, a complete reconstruction of an ancient icon based on the image on medieval seals was carried out. This is the central icon of the Chernihiv diocese, which disappeared in the 13th century, probably during the Mongol invasion.
The project was implemented at the initiative of the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance together with the Sheremetev Museum and the “Antikvar” publishing house. The reconstruction was carried out by icon painter Andriy Komarnytsky, and scientific supervision was provided by the head of the UINP Oleksandr Alferov.
The icon of the Savior was the central image of the cathedral of the Chernihiv diocese, created around the beginning of the 11th century. After its disappearance, no written records remained, however, three lead seals depicting this image were discovered in the museum collection, which became the basis for the reproduction.
During the work, the team used a comparative iconographic analysis of Old Russian and Byzantine monuments of the 11th–12th centuries – miniatures of the Trier Psalter, the Ostromir Gospel, mosaics of Sophia of Kiev and icons of Alypius of the Caves.
Icon painter Andriy Komarnytsky restored the icon in the traditional tetrachromy technique, which involves a limited color gamut characteristic of the art of Kievan Rus. According to him, the work lasted about a month and required a thorough study of the then school of icon painting.
“We analyzed both ancient and later images of the Savior, studied miniatures, sculptures, and mosaics. The gesture of blessing that is visible on the seals is extremely rare, and it is precisely by such details that one can determine the time of the original sample”, — said Komarnytsky.
The discovered seal turned out to be older than the founding of Moscow by more than a century. This has not only artistic but also symbolic significance, as it is another confirmation of the antiquity of the Ukrainian Christian tradition and statehood.
The project was funded by the publishing house “Antiquar”, which is also preparing a thematic issue of the magazine dedicated to the reconstruction. The director of the publishing house, Hanna Sherman, reported that on October 22 at 12:00, the presentation of the release and the ceremonial transfer of the icon to the National Architectural and Historical Reserve “Ancient Chernihiv” will take place in the Transfiguration Cathedral in Chernihiv.
Six more similar reconstructions of other lost Ukrainian icons are planned in the near future.
