Ivan Rutkovych

Background

Ivan Rutkovych was born about 1650 in Bilyi Kamin, near Zolochiv, Ukraine.

Education

In 1670 Ivan studied and worked under the guidance of the artist Roman Mogilnitsky in Kamenka Strumilova (now - Kamenka-Bugskaya).

Career

Some of Rutkovych's work was lost, but there is still a significant amount of well-preserved icons, as well as iconostases, made by Rutkovych together with other 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 among 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 separate icons, among them Supplication (1683) from Potelych village, Lviv region.

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

Achievements

• 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 free rein to the artist to reveal his individual style with maximum care for detail. A score of local schools sprang up in Sudova Vyshnia, Zhovkva, Robotychi, Volyn region and other.
  
  In Lviv, there is the street named after Ivan Rutkovych.
  
  The iconostasis of The Holy Trinity Church in Zhovkva shows contribution of different 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.

Works

More photos

• painting

  • Saint Volodymyr the Great

  • Christ in Glory

  • Christ in the House of Matha and Mary

  • Dormition of Virgin_Mary

  • Archangel Gabriel

  • Archangel Michael

  • Moses and Zacharias

  • Savior nerukotvornyi (Saviour Not-Made-By-Hands) from the Zhovkva iconostasis

  • The Old Testament Trinity

  • Christ Healing the Hemorrhaging Woman

  • Road to Emmaus

  • Sermon of Saint John the Baptist

  • Three Angels

  • Crucifixtion with scenes of Christ's Passion

  • Royal Gates of the Zhovkva iconostasis

Connections

The documents have been preserved that Rutkovich married Eva, a teacher of Roman Mogilnitsky’s maidservant, who was much older than a young artist and had already been a widow twice. Subsequently, this unequal marriage, which also took place with violations of church rules, was invalidated. It is also known about the painter's son, Mikhail Rutkovich, also an artist, whose name is mentioned from 1724 to 1756.

Son:

Mikhail Rutkovich