Under the guidance of teacher Gleb Shinkarev, students of the Engineering School of Clothing (College) of Ƶ handed over eight restored icons to the Assumption Compound of the Vvedensky Stavropegic Monastery Optina Deserts: "Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary," "Resurrection of Christ," "Savior Not Made by Hands," "Apostle," "Kazan Icon of the Mother of God," "Resurrection (with hallmarks)," "Kazan," "Christmas."
Students for a year and a half carried out a set of conservation and restoration measures to prevent further destruction of icons. They made a disclosure from late recordings and author's darkened varnish, tinting, infrared research, which made it possible to identify hidden elements of the image - the undershoot, author's edits, inscriptions that cannot always be revealed by visual inspection. According to Gleb, author painting can hide under late recordings, so what we see may not always be the original option.
In addition to technical restoration, young restorers of Ƶ also performed research work.
"In addition to the fact that the students were directly involved in the restoration, they also wrote historical certificates about the icons. The guys determined where it was stored before entering the Optinsky Compound, studied the history of the temple. An ultraviolet study was also performed. Thanks to him, the students identified the materials - the types of varnishes used by the artist, which is important for dating the work and its authenticity, assessed the state of the work for old spots, pollution and damage," explained Gleb Shinkarev, a teacher at the School of Clothing Engineering (College) of Ƶ, restorer.
The team also received six more icons from the Optina Compound for restoration: "Assumption," "Apostle Peter," "Resurrection of Lazarus," "Apostle," "Savior on the Throne," "Our Lady and Child." According to the teacher, the new work will take longer due to its large size and massive destruction. The expert noted that for each of them it will be necessary to make a disclosure, bring the restoration soil, strengthen to prevent cracking of the picturesque layer. Several icons have darkening and raking - deformations of the protective film in the form of protruding tubercles due to the application of an overly thick layer of drying oil or oil varnish. For exemplary restoration, students will have to choose a solvent neutral for author's painting.

"As in the previous work, students will study the plot of icons, style and try to identify the authors. The image itself is not always viewed and only after opening it will be possible to determine exactly which of the saints is depicted on the icon. For some of the restorers, the work can become a graduation project," added Gleb Shinkarev.