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Why is the Museum of Russian Icons in Clinton, Massachusetts?
Museum Founder Gordon B. Lankton has always been a collector. He moved to Central Massachusetts as a 50-50 partner of a small plastic manufacturing company with 25 employees. The company was originally called Nylon Products but was later changed to Nypro Inc. When the original partner retired seven years later in 1969, Gordon purchased the other 50% and became the owner. During next 50 years, Nypro grew to over a billion dollars in sales per year with manufacturing plants in Asia, Europe, South and North America.
One factory, located in Russia, provided Gordon the opportunity to travel there several times a year. On one of these early visits, he met icon artist Alyona Knyazeva and writer Oleg Tarasov who introduced him to the culture and history of Russian Orthodoxy.
Gordon explored Russian flea markets and museums during his trips and became enamored with Russian culture. He educated himself about the art and history of Russian icons and resolved to return to the US with souvenirs that would serve to remind him of Russian culture. As a result, he began to purchase small, inexpensive icons at flea markets and shops each time he visited. A few years later, he began attending auctions and meeting art dealers to assemble a more substantial collection.
Inspired by his passion for art collecting, Gordon’s home became filled with icons. He thought perhaps these beautiful objects belonged in a museum where they could be looked after and cared for professionally. Gordon approached several local museums to determine their interest. Though the icons were well received, only a few icons would be exhibited at a time, and the remainder would be placed in storage.
Gordon wasn’t about to agree to those conditions. He wanted a space where visitors could explore an entire gallery of Russian icons. He was advised by friends, associates and museum professionals to establish a museum in Boston or New York where it had greater potential for success. Upon reflection, Gordon felt that without the support of the Clinton community he would not be able to build his collection.
He purchased the 150-year-old building across from Clinton’s historic Central Park. While maintaining the original façade, Gordon worked with designer David Durrant and contractor T.H. Smith to gut and renovate the interior, creating the refined, modern space you see today. The Museum galleries accommodate group tours, programs, and about 180 icons on display. The Museum of Russian Icons was founded in 2006.
What makes this Museum “green?”
The Museum of Russian Icons features auxiliary solar power, an LED lighting system, and automated displays.
Inside, technology balances the dramatic space with a timber-framed truss roof. The building is electrically self-sufficient, with 44 photovoltaic panels, each capable of 13 KW hours, powering low-voltage fluorescent and LED lighting in multiple colors. The Museum’s photovoltaic system provides extra power to the public energy grid via a co-generation system. The building is heated by natural gas.
How many icons are in the Museum collection?
At this time, there are over 500 icons and artifacts within the Museum of Russian Icon’s collection.
What is the oldest icon in the Museum?
The oldest icon is the Saint John the Baptist icon dated 1450. There are also objects such as reliquary crosses that date back to the 10th-12th centuries.
Are we viewing original icons?
In the Orthodox tradition, icons were produced by monks. Icons were, and still are hand-painted using ancient methods and symbolically significant materials. The monks often recreated important, miracle-working icons and disseminated them across Russia. While monks used the format of specific icons, some details were altered. The icons you see before you are not the original painting. All original icons are kept in sacred spaces, or have been lost during the 2000 year history of icon painting.
Nonetheless, the icons in the Museum collection are quite old and created by monks who studied the craft and perfected the technique of icon writing. Also, though monks recreated the format of specific icons, many details were altered to balance personal taste, region, and styles of the day. While these are not the original, miracle-working icons from the legends, they are considered to be original art.