Ivan Yizhakevych Lavra Art Studios turn 130

Most of the first books, first prayer books, and grammars were created in Kyiv Cave Monastery (Kyiv Pechersk Lavra), starting from the time of the Saint Nestor the Chronicler. In the 17th century world famous engravers brothers Oleksandr and Leontii Tarasevych, whose works became the part of the world cultural heritage, worked there. Lavra has always had its own traditions of icon painting and its own school. According to Patericon, the Mother of God blessed the masters of Constantinople to go to Russia and build the Assumption Church handing them the “Assumption of the Virgin Mary” icon and relics of saints. Icon-painting school in Russia originated from Alipy of the Caves (11th-12th centuries), who studied from these masters, working on mural paintings in the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra.

One of these centers – Lavra Art Studios turned 130 this year. Presently it’s a building No. 30 of the National Kyiv Pechersk Historical and Cultural Preserve. The facade of the building has a memorial plaque of white marble dedicated to the Artistic Union “Ivan Yizhakevych Lavra Art Studios.” It was here that Ivan Yizhakevych managed the painting school in 1905 and 1906. In 1906 the school was transformed into a studio and left ten young students there on the full board.

The statement made by the artist Ivan Yizhakevych to the governor of Lavra on July 12, 1905: “In response to an oral request of the Father Vicar of Lavra regarding the terms on which I agree to teach drawing in Lavra Drawing School, I have the honor to state that given the fact, that I as a former student of Lavra Drawing School now want to be useful to Lavra in response for its previous concern for me, I agree to teach for as long as I continue my work in the Refectory of the church for free devoting about two hours of my work per day to this. After the completion of the work in the Refectory, I agree to teach at the Drawing School for the payment of 100 rubles per month as they usually pay all the teachers in the drawing institutions.”

Thanks to the great master the art work never stopped at the building No. 30. Time passed, the government changed, but the best Ukrainian artists, known far outside the country, always successfully worked in these studios – Oleksii Shchusiev, Mykola Hlushchenko, Fedir Konovaliuk, Petro Vlasenko, Tetiana Pata, Heorhii Yakutovych, and others. This was the place where Mykola Murashko founded his school, where Mikhail Vrubel taught at his invitation.

The neat building No. 30 is like an embroidery shirt, decorated with patterns of red brick on a yellow background formed by fancy brickwork. The place provides excellent conditions for creative work of artists: rooms with high ceilings are well illuminated thanks to the large arched windows. It is clear that the studios were built with love especially for artists. Indeed, for the reconstruction and making mural paintings in temples of Kyiv Pechersk Lavra special facilities were needed. Artists created sketches of the paintings here and pilgrims from around the world still come to see them on their own.

In the period between 1880 and 1883 a building for the drawing school was constructed on the strong foundation that holds the slope behind the Refectory Church, according to the design of the architecture academician Viktor Sychuhov. The old building, where Yizhakevych studied from 1876 until 1882, was already unfit for art classes. Yizhakevych together with architect Oleksii Shchusiev chose the place behind the Refectory Church on the observation deck, which offered wonderful views of the lower territory of Lavra, the Dnipro River, and the Left Bank.

From the outside you can see a two-storeyed building, but if you go inside, it appears that there is also a third floor – attic. From the studios on this floor you can easily get on the roof. Everyone who comes here gets a chance to see an incredibly beautiful panorama and get the breathtaking feeling of flying far at a long distance, beyond the horizon… God Himself designed this place to inspire artists for High Art.

Over 130 years of work of the Yizhakevych studios a great number of prominent artists went through them. After the revolution of 1917 the Art School of People’s Education of Ukraine was located here and Kateryna Bilokur and Maria Prymachenko grew up here. Since 1922 theater artists had worked here. The building suffered considerable destruction during the war with Nazi occupiers in 1941-45 and was rebuilt in 1953-54 by the National Union of Artists on their own funds and with the assistance of the state.

All this time the studios were the artistic center of professional artists in various fields: icon painters, painters of battle pieces, architects, painters, masters of graphic art and folk art, sculptors. In the 1950s-1980s it was the place where such famous artists as Mykhailo Derehus, Ivan Honchar, Vasyl Borodai, Stepan Kyrychenko, Mykhailo Chepyk, Kyrylo Hvozdyk, Petro Movchun, Serhii Podereviansky, Platon Biletsky, and many others created their masterpieces. More recently, such famous and talented artists as Halyna Zubchenko, Olena Ovchynykova, Yurii Khymych, Mykola Lebid, Ivan Zarytsky, and Yulii Sheinis worked here.

The centuries-old tradition of iconography is continued by modern masters, who work on new paintings and restoration of ancient temples, including the Assumption Cathedral in Lavra. Lavra studios again host iconography classes. With God’s blessing the classes are conducted by artist and iconographer Mykhailo Haiovy for anyone who wants to learn the mystery of the creation of images of Saints. Iconographer Serhii Vandalovsky created over 30 iconostases around the world. Murals created by the artist even adorn the walls of the Holy Trinity Monastery of Hebron in Israel. Sometimes several fellow artists work on a joint project in one studio. Little studio of Andrii Honchar sheltered artists who create murals for the restored Dormition Cathedral in Lavra.

However, the masters in Lavra apart from their artistic work also must defend their premises from periodic attacks. When there was a threat of eviction of artists’ studios, they appealed to the members of the parliament and the entire community for help. Progressive countrymen and Diaspora have repeatedly upheld the right for the Lavra art studios in the building No. 30 to exist, knowing that it is the national cultural heritage which has to be preserved for the future generations of Ukrainians. After learning about another threat of destruction of the unique historical and cultural monument, Ukrainian and foreign newspapers and TV agencies made a series of reports to support the artists who work at the studios. Den newspaper told about the situation, when the artists were faced with excessive tariff increases (by four times!) for heating in winter of 2012.

Thanks to the conscious and caring citizens Lavra artists did not just survive, they still bring lots of joy through their artistic work. On the occasion of the 130th anniversary of the Artistic Union Ivan Yizhakevych Lavra Art Studios icon painters invite everyone to visit the exhibition titled “Icons: Tradition, School, Modern Time” that will open in July at the Books Museum (building No. 9 of the Kyiv Pechersk Preserve). Iconographers of the Artistic Union – graduates of the National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture worthily continue the work begun by Ivan Yizhakevych in Lavra.