ABSTRACT
The decline of Russian iconography is commonly set in the latter part of the sixteenth century and attributed to the growing secularization of Russian society due to western influences of humanism and the Enlightenment. If the icon truly mirrors the Russian soul and the nation’s conscience, and is a symbol of Russian culture, rooted in deep spirituality, then the fate of the icon in post-revolutionary Russia may serve as a reliable guide to the fate of the nation. Western scholars of iconography agree that the rich and peculiar artistry of the icon derives its significance from Eastern Christian spirituality. Pavel Korin, who allegedly boasts the best private collection of icons in Russia, could thus advise his friend, writer and icon collector, Vladimir Soloukhin: Always remember that they are great works of art. Even the new Soviet state realized the inestimable value of the icon as an irreplacable national treasure of Old Russian art.
