Icon painter Pimen Sofronov (1898-1973) and his student the Benedictine monk Jerome Leussink (1898-1952)
https://doi.org/10.28995/2658-4158-2021-2-117-131
Abstract
The author turns to the little-known biographical aspects of two outstanding icon painters - the Old Believer-Bespopovets from Estonia Pimen Maksimovich Sofronov and the Catholic monk of the Benedictine Holy Cross Monastery in Chevetogne (Belgium) Father Jerome Leussink. From December 1939 to the beginning of the 1940's, Leussink studied icon painting with Sofronov in Rome. The article is based on archival materials of the Holy Cross Monastery, in particular on Leussink's letters to his abbot. They show that the relationship between the teacher and the student quickly developed into a genuine cooperation, and then into a deep mutual respect and friendship. The author emphasizes that Pimen Sofronov not only conveyed but also revived the Old icon-painting tradition in Europe and in the New World, across boundaries between Churches. This was made possible by the help of his numerous students and friends in Paris, Prague, Rome and America.
About the Author
A. Lambrechts
Monastere benedictin de l’Exaltation de la Sainte-Croix
Belgium
Belgium
Antoine Lambrechts - Master in Germanic philology and Slavistics, Master in Theology, Monastere benedictin de l'Exaltation de la Sainte-Croix.
bld. 65, Monastere St., Chevetogne, B-5590.
References
1. Письмо Лёссинка Бельпэру - Письма Лёссинка отцу Федору Бельпэру, 19391941 гг. AAC, Fonds Belpaire 4/7 - Архив Амэ-Шеветонь. Фонд Бельпэр 4/7.
2. Becquet, T. (1930), “Les saintes icones”, in Irenikon, pp. 428-447.
3. Becquet, T. (1931), “Reviews: Collection of articles dedicated to the memory of N.P. Kondakov (Prague, 1926), N.P. Kondakov. Russian Icon (Prague, 1931)”, in Irenikon, pp. 173-183, 615-619.
4. Leussink, J. (1941), De heilige ikonen. Over het wezen en de vereering der ikonen, over de voorschriften en voornaamste onderwerpen der ikonenkunst. Heemstede, Nederland.
5. “Gregorio Malzeff e la sua Rocca Priora” (2007), in Tuscolo [Rocca Priora], no. 136, p. 42.
6. Markelov, G.V. (2000), “Isograph from Prichudie ([Lake Chud' region])”, Daugava, no. 1, pp. 97-111.
7. Petrova, G.N. (2007), Grigonj Malcev - hudozhnik iz legendy [Grigory Maltsev, an artist from the legend], Odessa, Ukraine.
8. Rzhoutil, M. (2013), “ ‘...My desire and concern is that true iconography would not perish and disappear into history'. Letters of iconographer P.M. Sofronov to princess N.G. Yashvil in the 1930's.”, in Yuhimenko, E.M. (ed., comp.), Staroobryadchestvo v Rossii (XVII-XX veka). Vyp. 5 [Old Belief in Russia (17th - 20th centuries). Issue 5], Moscow, Russia, pp. 518-585.
9. Weidle, V. (1931), “Russian icon painting. About the exhibition of the Society “Icon” in Paris (29/11 - 13/12/1931)”, Rossiya i Slavyanstvo (Paris), no. 161. 26 Dec.
Review
For citations:
Lambrechts A. Icon painter Pimen Sofronov (1898-1973) and his student the Benedictine monk Jerome Leussink (1898-1952). Studia Religiosa Rossica: Russian Journal of Religion. 2021;(2):117-131. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.28995/2658-4158-2021-2-117-131
Views:
763
Email this article 