Icon - John the Baptist - Wood

A valuable Russian icon, purchased at auction (see certificate) depicting Saint John the Baptist, portrayed in his classic iconography as the "Angel of the Desert". The Saint is depicted with slender wings, a symbol of his ascetic life and his role as the messenger who precedes Christ.
In the center, the Forerunner holds a cup (chalice) containing the Christ Child (Agnus Dei), symbolizing the Eucharistic sacrifice. In his left hand he also holds a scroll bearing inscriptions in Old Church Slavonic.
Technical and Iconographic Details:
Lateral Saints (Bordi): On the left is depicted the Guardian Angel (Ангел Хранитель), while on the right appears Saint John Chrysostom (Святой Иоанн Златоуст), identifiable by the inscriptions.
Support: Solid wood board with a characteristic natural curvature (visible in the profile photos), typical of vintage icons. The back features two horizontally recessed crossbars (sponki) to prevent the wood from warping.
Style: Egg tempera painting on a gold/ochre background, with borders in Siena Earth Red.
The icon is accompanied by an Award Deed from an Italian auction house ("La Porta Giusta"), dated September 13, 2004 (Invoice No. 1334/03). The document bears catalog number 54, which corresponds to the label still affixed to the back of the panel. This guarantees legitimate provenance and provides a historical basis for dating.
Condition of Preservation
The work is presented in good overall condition. There are signs of aging and small losses in the painted layer that attest to its authenticity and age, but without compromising the readability of the main subject or the faces.