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Museum exhibit /Icon depicting the Saints Pitirim and Tikhon
This icon depicting the Saints Pitirim and Tikhon belonged to Tikhon Romanovich Muravskii (1896- shot 20.12.1937). It was preserved in the family, first by T.R. Muravskii’s sister Evdokia Romanovna Povaliaeva (around 1900-1986), later by T.R. Muravskii’s son, Valentin Tikhonovich Muravskii (born 1928) as the only item left behind by their brother and father. In 1999 V.T. Muravskii gave the icon to the Museum of the Research and Information Centre “Memorial” in St Petersburg. (Photo 19.12.2007). | Registration number in museum acquisition book | KP-109 |
| Date of acquisition | 29.10.1999 |
| Date and place of creation | late 10th century |
| Size | Icon – 6 cm x 6,7 cm; overall size – 7,7 cm x 8,4 cm |
| Description of exhibit | An icon depicting two human figures, covered by a metal casing. The casing is chased and encloses the picture of two standing male figures dressed in the robes of saints, holding staffs in their hands. There are halos around their heads. The casing itself is framed by a decorative frame with geometric figures and plant ornaments. The faces are painted in oil on wood. The back of the icon panel is covered with dark-red velvet. The icon has a gold-plated wooden frame. An eyelet for hanging the icon has been screwed into the reverse side of the frame. |
| State of preservation | The painting is in good condition, the fabric is soiled, the gilding on the frame has become erased. The frame is soiled, there are cracks and traces of amateur restoration with furniture glue. |
| Detailed annotation | This icon depicting the Saints Pitirim and Tikhon was purchased by the Kocherga family in 1896 in the small town of Bereslav, Khersonskaia gubernia, in honour of the birth of son Tikhon (Tikhon Romaovich Muravskii-Kocherga, 1896-1937). It was preserved in the family of Tikhon Muravskii’s parents and later in the family of his younger sister E.R. Povaliaeva. Following the arrest and execution of T.R. Muravskii his family – his wife R.O. Muravskaia (1894-1957), daughter Dina (born 1926) and son Valentin (born 1928) were exiled from Leningrad in 1938. They returned in 1941 and were subsequently evacuated to Cherkessia, when the territory was occupied they were sent to Germany and Austria to do forced labourer. D.T. Muravskaia married an American and emigrated to the USA. In 1947, V.T. Muravskii was sentenced to three years in a labour camp for writing to his sister (released in 1950); in 1948 R.I. Muravskaia was sentenced to ten years in a labour camp for writing to her daughter (released in 1956). Mother and son returned to Leningrad in 1957, where the mother died. In the late 1950s or early 1960s V.T. Muravskii’s aunt, E.R. Povaliaeva, presented her nephew with several family photographs and this icon, which she had been preserving as a keepsake of her late brother. V.T. Muravskii preserved the icon the only item left behind by his father. In 1999 V.T. Muravskii gave the icon to the Museum of the Research and Information Centre “Memorial” in St Petersburg. |
Museum exhibit /Icon depicting the Saints Pitirim and Tikhon
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