REFLECTIONS ON THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF YOUSSEF NASSIF (1920- 2013) and BEDOUR LATIF (1921-2012)

Published by: Coptic Museum of Canada

ISBN: 978-0-9812726-4-1

Price:$18.00 plus postage & handling

Publication date: January 2025

Readership: Art History, Coptic Religious Art, Egyptian Art History

Soft cover, saddle stitched 5.5 X 8.5, 35 pages

50 color plates  

TO ORDER: send email to: copticmusemcanada@gmail.com            

Summary

Youssef Nassif and Bedour Latif were among the pioneers of the renewal of Coptic iconography that began in the 1950s. They were recognized for their deeply spiritual approach to the sacred art of iconography and the use of symbols to communicate a spiritual message or “story” without resorting to words. At a 2013 memorial event in their honor, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III is quoted to referred to them as “the most beautiful Egyptian icon of all” adding that they were graced with many artistic talents and a deep sense of spirituality. A uniqueness of their art is also their partnership in its creation.

While viewers and scholars are free to interpret icons or paintings as they perceive them, the Coptic Museum of Canada seeks to provide the interpretation(s) from the perspective of artists. This booklet on the life and legacy of Youssef Nassif and Bedour Latif introduces readers to their interpretation of  the imagery in their icons.  In addition to their responses to a series of questions the author asked them over a period of eight years, the booklet also refers to resources about them in the Museum’s Reference Library.

Contents

- Introduction

- Biographies

- Chapter 1    Spiritual Approach to Partnership in Art

- Chapter 2    Distinct Characteristic of Icons

- Appendix 1  International Selected List of Churches and other Sites with icons by Bedour Latif and Youssef  Nassif    

- Chapter 3    Gallery of Icons and Art

1.Icons in the Coptic Museum of Canada

2. Icons in St. Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Church, Scarborough, Ontario

3. Selection of other art in the Coptic Museum of Canada’s Collection

About the author: Helene Moussa  has been the Volunteer Curator of the Coptic Museum of Canada. She has published books and articles on various artifacts in the Museum and on Coptic art in the diaspora.

COPTIC ICONS IN A NEW LIGHT: Narrative Series, 2011-2017, by Victor Asaad Fakhoury

By: Helene Moussa

Published by the Coptic Museum of Canada

Date of publication: November 2018

ISBN 978-0-9812726-3-4

Victor Asaad Fakhoury was born in Cairo, Egypt in 1960. Fakhoury’s contribution is unique in the field of Coptic iconography because he created not just one but a series of ten icons, in which he has made it his vocation to respond in the language of icons, to contemporary events in the life of the Church and Christians in Egypt, beginning with the popular uprising on 25 January 2011. The Coptic Museum of Canada is fortunate to have acquired for its collection all of the ten icons in the series

This catalogue reproduces each icon in this series and interprets from the artist’s perspective the many layers of meaning the imagery he uses in each icon to communicate the spiritual message he seeks to convey.

Price: $30.00 plus postage and handling.

ICÔNES COPTES SOUS UN NOUVEL ÉCLAIRAGE. Série Narrative 2011-2017 de Victor Asaad Fakhoury

Par: Helene Moussa

Publication du Musée copte du Canada

Date de publication: Novembre 2018

ISBN 978-0-9812726-3-4

Victor Asaad Fakhoury est né au Caire en Égypte en 1960. La contribution de Fakhoury est unique dans le domaine de l’iconographie copte. Il créa non seulement une icône, mais une série de dix icônes avec pour mission de répondre, dans le vocabulaire des icônes, à des événements contemporains dans la vie de l’Église copte et des chrétiens d’Égypte. Il débuta avec la révolte populaire du 25 janvier 2011. Le Musée copte du Canada a eu la chance d’acquérir dans sa collection les dix icônes de cette série.

Le catalogue reproduit les dix icônes de cette série et présente les interprétations de l’artiste et les nombreux niveaux de signification de l’imagerie dont il se sert dans chaque icône pour transmettre le message spirituel qu’il veut communiquer.

Prix du catalogue : 30.00$ plus frais de port et d’embalage

Curated by Helene Moussa

Published by St. Mark’s Coptic Museum, Ontario, Canada

Date of publication: 2016

ISBN 978-0-9812726-2-7

This book is an invitation to explore, study and research the Coptic Museum’s diverse collection of artifacts. The collection is introduced in fourteen sections, which are organized by genre of artifact: Biblical Paintings by Marguerite Nakhla; Clay Work & Sculpture; Coins; Crosses; Icons; Jewellery; Ecclesiastical Vestments; Metal Works; Paintings; Papyrus, Books, and Manuscripts; Stamps; Tapestries from the Ramses Wissa Wassef Art Centre; Textiles and Woodwork. Each section opens with an introductory overview of the historical, cultural, and artistic significance of the artifacts in the Museum’s collection, and, where possible, the artists and authors are identified. Over 70 full-colour photographs complement the text and bring to life the dynamic creativity of the Coptic cultural mosaic.

Price: $15.00 plus postage and handling.

Curated by: Helene Moussa and Sandy Saad.

Date of Publication: 2011.

Published by St. Mark’s Coptic Museum.

ISBN: 978-0-982726

Catalogue of the first exhibition of Coptic artists in North America (2011). Includes essays on migration of Copts to Canada, the status of modern and contemporary art in Egypt, an art history analysis of the thirteen artists selected for this exhibition , as well as biographies of the artists with the images of their works.

Price: $10.00 plus postage and handling.

By: Fr. Marcos A, Marcos, Helee Moussa & Carolyn M. Ramzy

Published by St. Mark’s Coptic Museum: 2009

Printed by Printology Inc.

ISBN 978-0-9812726-0-3

Marguerite Nakhla was born in 1908 and passed away in 1977. She is considered one of the pioneers of the twentieth century Modern Egyptian Art Movement. In 1975 she was recognized as the leading Egyptian woman artist in the first half of that century. This book reproduces and discusses eighty of her works. Marguerite Nakhla’s legacy is that of an accomplished artist who   used her artistic skills to create a compelling repertoire of paintings and icons.

Price: $30.00 plus postage and handling.