Museum of Russian Icons

Gordon Lankton, long-time head of the plastic manufacturing company Nypro (based in Clinton, Massachusetts, about 30 miles from central Boston), became fascinated with Russian icons during the course of many business trips to Russia. He purchased his first icon, an image of St. Nicholas, in 1989, at a Russian flea market, for $20. But his passion for this art form was fueled by a far more expensive icon he later received as a business gift: a minyea, or liturgical calendar, featuring the months of the year and the daily saints, with their names written in Russian above their heads. In Lankton’s words: “All of a sudden I had a $6,000 icon. I was so impressed with this minyea, I thought maybe I should make a hobby of getting really good ones.”

Over the years, Lankton’s personal collection grew. After displaying his treasures in his home for a decade, Lankton decided to make them accessible to the public. He initially considered donating the collection to a New York museums, but realized that his icons would likely be exhibited only sporadically. So Lankton decided to build his own museum in the small mill town where his business was based. He bought a historic building, then spent $2.5 million to have it gutted and renovated.

Today, The Museum of Russian Icons houses one of the largest collections of Russian icons outside Russia and the largest of its kind in North America. MORI’s collection numbers some 350 icons (of which roughly 200 icons are on rotating display), spanning six centuries, from 1350 to the present. Lankton’s creation is a spectacular, modern setting for experiencing Russian icons. A metal and glass staircase stretches up the center of the three-story building, offering visitors a sweeping view of the works on display, while recessed lighting, dark walls, and background liturgical music create an atmosphere conducive to quiet contemplation – a perfect environment for an art form centered on the viewer’s ability to “commune” with the image.