FOCUS ON THE ARTS: Artist from Kyiv restores painting at Maryland college (07/12/98)

FOCUS ON THE ARTS

Artist from Kyiv restores painting at Maryland college

BALTIMORE - Kateryna Dovhan-Mychajlyshyn, art conservator and restorer, and an artist in her own right, has recently completed restoration work in the Baker Chapel at Western Maryland College, where she worked on the central painting, "Christ and the Rich Young Ruler." The painting, a copy of J. H. Hofman's masterpiece, was commissioned by the college's art history department.

The painting was completed in 1903 by Maryland artist Frances Thomson. The original, by H.J. Hofman, is in the Riverside Church in Manhattan. The painting depicts Jesus asking a wealthy ruler to give his riches to the poor.

Work on the painting involved conservation, restoration, additive processes and painting in the style of the original. The restoration project, with its high quality of work, drew the attention of local TV stations and news media.

A native of Kyiv, Ms. Dovhan-Mychajlyshyn has a studio in Baltimore and works as an art conservator and restorer. A graduate of the Kyiv Art Academy, her extensive experience in the restoration of ancient icons and paintings throughout Ukraine have provided her with a masterful skill.

Among restoration projects on which she worked while with an art conservation studio in Kyiv were the restoration of the finely engraved bronze iconostasis in the 18th century baroque Cathedral of the Nativity of the Mother of God in the town of Kozelets, Chernihiv Oblast; the wooden iconostasis of the 18th century Church of the Transfiguration in Sorochyntsi, Poltava region; as well as such landmarks as St. Andrew's Church and the Pecherska Lavra (Monastery of the Caves) in Kyiv.

Six of Ms. Dovhan-Mychajlyshyn's icons were recently installed in St. Michael Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Baltimore. Five of the icons form part of the church's iconostasis and one, Christ the Pantocrator, serves as the altar icon. St. Michael's was burned and vandalized in 1996; it has since been completely restored and continues to serve the Baltimore Ukrainian community.

Among Ms. Dovhan-Mychajlyshyn's restoration projects being undertaken at her studio are objects of European art, among them, miniature portraits believed to be the work of a student of the 17th century Flemish painter Van Dyke, of Mary, Queen of Scots, and that of her husband; and a wooden sculpture from the Czech Republic dating from the 18th century.