The third icon painting workshop within the project “Icon Is Painted With Light” was held at the Gallery of the National Museum Kraljevo, on Thursday, November 13th, 2025, starting at 4:00 p.m. The workshop was led by Marija Topalović, iconographer, academic painter, and restorer.
A large number of local participants of all ages responded to the invitation. The spirit of creative joy quickly took hold, and regardless of prior experience, attendees successfully completed their first works in the Byzantine technique.
Participants learned that icon painting is more than art – it is a spiritual act through which divine presence is revealed. The icon is not merely an artistic expression, but a profound spiritual experience through which God manifests and the human being is transformed both spiritually and physically.
According to tradition, the first icon was the Image Not Made by Hands of Jesus Christ, created when the ailing Prince Abgar of the Euphrates Valley sent his iconographer to Palestine to find Christ, the Healer of all suffering, and paint His likeness. Unable to capture His image, Christ miraculously imprinted His perfect face onto a cloth, which was sent to the prince. Upon venerating and kissing the cloth, Prince Abgar was healed. The image later became a symbol of protection for nations against enemy forces.
The workshop emphasized that the more an iconographer frees themselves from personal constraints and imagination, the more they allow the image of Christ to come alive.
After a brief reflection on the sacred significance of the icon, participants were guided through the three fundamental stages of painting a Byzantine face. They began with instructions on proper sketch placement, composition relative to the surface, and engraving the drawing. The next segment focused on preparing the egg tempera emulsion. This was followed by underpainting with a dark base color, which defines shadows and facial tones, then painting with lighter tones to shape midtones, blended using sfumato (glazing). After the first highlight, the second and third layers followed, leading to the final Byzantine image. The most demanding part – glazing with transparent layers – was well mastered by the participants.
Each attendee took home their first icon painting as a memento of the day they discovered the centuries-old mystery of the Byzantine face.
Organized in collaboration with the Group for Pedagogical and Propaganda Activities of the National Museum Kraljevo, the workshop will be remembered as a valuable cultural and educational experience, and the strong public interest confirmed the importance of preserving traditional painting techniques.