Une nouvelle collection d'icônes en France : le fonds Henri Collin du musée des Beaux-Arts de Rouen

Abstract

A New Icon-collection in France : the Henri Collin Legacy From the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Rouen In October 1985, Madame Henri Collin, born Tatiana Krawców, bequeathed her icon-collection composed of thirty-two pieces to the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Rouen which thus became the second French museum, after Le Louvre, to possess an important icon-collection. The permanent exhibition of this collection is scheduled in autumn 1991. This note presents three of these icons: 1. The Crucifixion (inv.: 985.1.9) (plate A): Russia, beginning of the 16th century. This Russian icon, the oldest of the set, has several Byzantine characteristics which attest the faithfulness of Russian iconography at that time as regards Byzance. 2. Christ’s Nativity (inv.: 985.1.3) (plate В): Moscow school, 17th century. This iconography of Christ’ childhood with multiple scenes appeared in Russia in the middle of the 16th century and became very common in the 17th century. 3. Saint Nicolas from Zarajsk surrounded by sixteen scenes of his Uf e (inv.: 985.1.26) (plate С): Russia, 17th century. At the end of the note, a thematic list briefly presents each icon of the collection. They are quite varied as is shown by their date (from the 16th to the beginning of the 20th century), their style (from popular style to that of the imperial workshops), their iconography, their technique (tempera painting, wood-carving and embroidery) and by their geographical origin (Russia, Greece, and Romania).