In this novel study of the history of Russian icons, Oleg Tarasov looks in detail at a range of fascinating issues, from the sacred meanings of such images to practical questions of how and why they were made. The significance of icons in the cultural life of Russia is discussed in the context of popular prints and poster design. Wonder-working saints, the leaders of such religious schisms as the Old Believers, and holy icon painters all appear in these pages, which are illustrated with miniatures, lithographs and engravings that have never before been published.