Techniques of Icon and Wall Painting

I bought this to help me understand how to make gesso panels for gilding. I had been having trouble finding a reliable recipe and just general guidance online that was precise enough for me to have confidence to follow. I have found this book to be extremely thorough and very helpful. A very well done to the author for his diligence is communicating every step so well and in such detail.

As an artist of many years I can thoroughly recommend this book as a 'Once in a lifetime' publication that will be the standard textbook for icon or wall painters for many years to come.The text is easy to understand and the hundreds of illustrations / photographs compliment the in-depth nature of this fabulous and long needed treatise.If you are initially put off by the price I can reassure you that when you see the quality which is within the cover you will wonder how it is possible to write and produce such a volume which I would have expected to be at the very least £60 - £70.I have awarded 5 stars only because I cannot award 10!

An extremely comprehensive book on the subject. If you're looking for a beginners "How to paint Icons" book, then a lot of this content may go over your head. It really does goes into a lot of depth explaining the materials, the required preparation and even reviews the spiritual significance of the medium. Although I'm sure I'll never be able to digest and use ALL of the information this book offers, I'm very glad I have it regardless.

I live in Greece and was given the opportunit to attend lessons on iconography. The tutor does not speak English, and I speak basic Greek. I was missing valuable info as I was reliant on those around me to translate. This book has proved invaluable on filling me in on the background and meanings of iconography. The visual aids and step by step instructions back up my weekly class work. The tutor was most impressed that all this information is in one book, as opposed to books available in Greece. Absolutely delighted with it. Well worth the high price!

Excellent and comprehensive book. Provides pretty much all the information I can imagine will be needed for me to learn how to do icon and wall painting in the orthodox style. It may not be a cheap book, but it is well worth the price for the detail it contains.

I am an icon-paunter myself (see my book "Ikonen neu sehen") and I offer also courses in icon painting. I canb say: this realy is the best handbook for this theme! Harmjan Dam

This is an amazingly thorough book and seems to contain everything one might want to learn about icon and wall painting. It is useful, too, for those interested in mediaeval script illumination and gilding. Plentiful illustrations. One niggle is that there is no proper index.

Wonderful book

Perfect for anyone who wants to learn about icons & iconography!

Highly recommend having this one in your collection of Icon Books!Many thanks to the author for this book.By the way, incredibly fast shipping,:)

Veramente molto bello, sia per le numerose informazioni di carattere storico, artistico e teologico, che tecnico pratiche, per non paralre delle stupende immagini. Consigliato a chi ama l'iconografia.

Exactly as expected. Tky !!

Aidan Hart’s Techniques of Icon and Wall Painting is one of the prettiest books I have had the pleasure to view; and it is one of the clearest depictions of what icons and frescos are and how they are a part of the eastern churches life. It is an extremely well written humble treatise on the subject, and the book contains clear in depth information on how to read icons, as well as clear instruction on the basic and advanced techniques of “writing” or painting these windows to heaven. As an Orthodox Reader I found information I had never encountered before, and reasons that strengthened my belief that being an Iconodule is key to the faith. This book is not for the faint of heart – it lays out clear foundations for icon use and painting, and challenges the reader to see beyond the “work of art” to the reality it represents. This is one of the top books on Icons - and is the top book on techniques. may I find time to use the information, not just read the book.