Ivan Rutkovych

Ivan Rutkovych is considered a founder of the Zhovkva Iconographic School of painting and wood carving.

The artistic style of Ivan Rutkovych combines Ukrainian-Byzantine tradition of expressing religious subjects with modern European influences, more secular and realistic.

According to art historians,[2] in that time new iconographical cannons were established, giving free rein to the artist to reveal his individual style with maximum care for detail.

A score of local schools sprang up in Sudova Vyshnia, Zhovkva, Robotychi, Volyn region and other.

The iconostasis of The Holy Trinity Church in Zhovkva shows the contribution of different masters, among them Vasyl Petranovych (icon of Savoir, icon of Our Lady), Hnat Stobensky (carving of the Holy Door) and Ivan Rutkovych himself (Annunciation, Christmas, Archangel Michael).