The Ikon Studio

Frescoes

"Christ saves Peter from the sea"

Christ, detail

"St. George and the Dragon"

This series of frescoes was executed for the narthex (entrance) of St. George's Antiochian Orthodox Church, Washington, D.C. The icons were painted on dry plaster ("al secco") rather than wet ("al fresco"), as were the majority of icons painted on church walls in the past.

The icon of of Christ and Peter, as well as that of the St. George composition, each covers a wall 9' x 12,' while the icon of Christ and that of the Theotokos ("Mother of God") each occupy a wall space 9' x 6.'

The two wooden doors you see challenged the artist to incorporate them into the composition in such a way that they wouldn't appear like the the inappropriately dressed wedding guest Jesus painted in his parable. Think we succeeded?

Incidentally, notice the designs painted on the faux drapery below the icons? A 14-th century master iconographer known only as Theophanes the Greek used them when he painted frescoes for the Church of the Transfiguration in Novgorod, Russia. This monument to his genius was carefully photographed by scholars, which is a blessing since it was utterly destroyed during WWII.

Partly to keep his legacy alive, and partly to stay in continuity with the past, we've reconstructed and used these designs. It may seem a small gesture, but it illustrates one way working within the tradition can link artists today with those of the past.

The following two frescoes have been painted for the side walls of the apse at St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Washington, D.C. The Raising of Lazarus and the Entrance into Jerusalem speak to the events of Christ's earthly ministry preceding his passion and resurrection.