Past Exhibitions

This selection of icons, Byzantine cast metal objects, ivories, and engraved gems from the British Museum traced the stylistic development of sacred art from the center of Christian civilization to the introduction of Christianity to Russia. This was the first time the British Museum, had ever lent St. John the Baptist (Constantinople, c. 1300) and the famous St. George and the Dragon (known as “Black George,” Novgorod, late 14th century). The exhibition was supplemented with additional icons from the Museum of Russian Icons collection and the loan of an ivory depicting the Dormition from the Worcester Art Museum.

The exhibition then traveled to the Chrysler Museum in Norfolk, Virginia. Initiated by Sir Richard Temple, who encouraged the British Museum to exhibit its icons in storage, the exhibit was curated by Gordon B. Lankton, Dr. Raoul Smith, and Kent dur Russell.