Dutch art historian Simon Morsink named executive director of Museum of Russian Icons

CLINTON — Dutch art historian and icon expert Simon Morsink has been appointed the new executive director of the Museum of Russian Icons.

Morsink replaces founding director Kent dur Russell, who recently announced his retirement after 16 years at the museum.

A leading specialist in Russian icons, Greek icons and Ethiopian and Byzantine art, Morsink and his brother Hugo have been running the Morsink Icon Gallery in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, since 1994. The gallery, which was founded in 1977 by their father, Jan Morsink, specializes in icons created between the 15th and 19th centuries.

Morsink also served as senior consultant in Russian and Greek icons for Sotheby’s in London from 2007 to 2020. He has contributed essays to two Museum of Russian Icons publications, and was a speaker at the museum’s 2021 international conference “Collecting Orthodox Art: A History and a Look Towards the Future.”

"I look forward to strengthening the Museum’s role as a crossroads for dialogue on the fascinating world of icons and orthodox art, and their place in world culture,” Morsink said in an announcement by the museum. “I strongly believe that the path forward for a sustainable and modern icon museum is in carefully balancing the academic world with the interests of the general public, which is increasingly socially engaged and diverse. With this in mind, I feel very motivated to lead the museum into a successful future,” Morsink said.

Morsink studied Art History and Slavic Studies in Leiden (the Netherlands) and Leuven (Belgium). As an art dealer and icon expert, Morsink has built strong relationships with private icon collectors worldwide, as well as with the relevant curators of major museums in Russia, Europe, Great Britain and the United States.

He has been involved in creating several international private collections and was instrumental in the acquisition of important icons by the Icon Museum in Recklinghausen in Germany, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and the Museum of Russian Icons, among others. He has also curated numerous exhibitions at his gallery and in European museums.

“I am delighted that Simon will join our administrative team as the new executive director,” said Jack McCabe, president of the Museum of Russian Icons board of trustees.

“He is uniquely qualified to guide the Museum into its next phase. His profound knowledge of icons and the orthodox world, coupled with his business acumen, entrepreneurial spirit, and global professional network will invigorate and amplify the role the museum can play in the local and global community," McCabe said. "Simon’s appointment comes in the middle of a busy year of returning, rebuilding, and reimagining at the Museum of Russian Icons after the pandemic, passing of founder Gordon Lankton (who died in 2021), and retirement of longtime director Kent Russell. His existing knowledge of and connection to the museum will be invaluable."

Morsink will begin his tenure at the museum on July 1.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Dutch art historian named executive director of Museum of Russian Icons