Ivan Rutkovych: 20 interesting facts

Ivan Rutkovych (Ukrainian: Іван Руткович), born approximately 1650s. in Bilyi Kamin, near Zolochiv, Lviv region, Ukraine, died after 1708, was a Ukrainian icon painter who worked mostly in Zhovkva and Univ. He is considered a founder of Zhovkva Iconographic School of painting and wood carving.

Some of Rutkovych’s perform was lost, but there is yet a significant amount of well-preserved icons, as with ease as iconostases, made by Rutkovych together with additional masters. There are iconostases of the wooden churches in Volytsia Derevlianska (1680–82), Volia Vysotska (1688–89); the large (10,85 х 11,87 m) iconostasis of the Church of Christ’s Nativity in Zhovkva (also known as iconostasis from Nova Skvariava) (1697–99), now in Lviv National Museum. The last is considered as a masterpiece along with Ukrainian iconostases of that time. It consists from 7 rows of icons. It was restored and exhibited to the public in 2009. Also in Lviv National Museum are preserved surgically remove icons, among them Supplication (1683) from Potelych village, Lviv region.

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The artistic style of Ivan Rutkovych combines Ukrainian-Byzantine tradition of expressing religious subjects with objector European influences, more secular and realistic.

Rutkovych is a most prominent representative of Zhovkva Iconographic School of painting and wood carving. According to art historians, in that time new iconographical cannons were established, giving pardon rein to the performer to proclaim his individual style like maximum care for detail. A score of local schools sprang in the works in Sudova Vyshnia, Zhovkva, Robotychi, Volyn region and other.

The iconostasis of The Holy Trinity Church in Zhovkva shows contribution of alternating masters, among them Vasyl Petranovych (icon of Savoir, icon of Our Lady), Hnat Stobensky (carving of the Holy Door) and Ivan Rutkovych himself (Annunciation, Christmas, Archangel Michael). The Church is placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2013.

In Lviv and Zhovkva there is the street named after Ivan Rutkovych.

Rutkovich died amid 1703 and 1708.

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