Nimbus and Cross: How to Read Russian Icons

 Dmitry Antonov is a Doctor of Historical Sciences and a professor at the Russian State Humanities University. He serves as the director of the University’s Center for Visual Studies of the Middle and Modern Ages and is a Senior Fellow at the Theoretical Folklore Studies Laboratory of the Russian Academy of National Economy and Public Administration. He has authored several books, including “Tsars and Impostors: The Struggle of Ideas in Russia’s Time of Troubles,” “Soviet Era Icons: The Faces of Tradition” (co-authored with Dmitry Doronin), “Anatomy of Hell: A Guide to Ancient Russian Visual Demonology” (co-authored with Mikhail Maizuls), and “Demons and Sinners in Ancient Russian Iconography: Image Semiotics” (co-authored with Mikhail Maizuls).
This is not a conventional encyclopedia of Russian icon painting. This book seeks to equip readers with the tools to navigate the world of icons and frescoes, understand the logic behind the images, and uncover information hidden within the details. Step by step, the author guides readers on how to “read” icons and explore the captivating intricacies embedded in each storyline.

Moscow: AST: OGIZ, 2023.