Icon Structural Components

[Allan, Kenneth]

I have an icon question for the list. As I understand it, the traditional (pre-Baroque influenced) Orthodox icon had 3 main parts: an inner recessed rectangular area where most of the painted representation was located (kovcheg); the beveled edge of that inner area (luzga); leading to the rectangular surround that looks frame-like, but which is part of the same board (polya).

In his book “Icon and Devotion” Oleg Tarasov discusses the inner rectangular zone as being the kovcheg or ark. But in his more recent “Framing Russian Art” he writes that the frame-like surround is actually the kovcheg, while not defining the beveled strip or inner zone.

That’s a fairly significant contradiction in two otherwise excellent books. Which one is correct?

Best,
Kenneth Allan


Kenneth R. Allan



Assistant Professor of Art History



Department of Art

Faculty of Fine Arts

University of Lethbridge

4401 University Drive

Lethbridge, Alberta

Canada, T1K 3M4



Tel: (403) 394-3923

kenneth.allan at uleth.ca<mailto:kenneth.allan at uleth.ca>



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