' ... richly illustrated, making available much popular iconographic material generally unfamiliar to Western readers ... a fascinating contribution to the cultural history of Russia.' - Times Literary Supplement 'Both the techniques and the meaning of the long history of icons are explored here; the core meaning residing, according to Mr Tarasov, in the icon's role as idealised image of Holy Russia. Much of the imagery has never been previously published in the English-speaking world. A treasure trove awaits.' - Art Newspaper ' ... invaluable ... this remarkable book should be required reading for anyone with a desire to understand imperial Russian culture at a more than superficial level.' - Slavonica 'Is it possible to explain a people on the basis of its religious art? Anyone who has explored the concept of Holy Russia or l'idee russe will find an answer to that question in Oleg Tarasov's study of icons and devotion in imperial Russia ... this book is immensely rewarding and will interest cultural, art, and political historians as well as the general reader.' - Renaissance Quarterly