Icon - Twelve Great Celebrations - Wood

Russian icon of the Twelve Great Feasts
Russia, probably the 19th century
Tempera on panel, gold ground

Orthodox icon depicting the traditional cycle of the Twelve Great Feasts (Dodekaorton), one of the most important and solemn subjects of Eastern icon painting. The composition features a central larger scene, surrounded by twelve narrative panels arranged along the perimeter, each dedicated to one of the principal feast days in the Orthodox liturgical calendar.

Among the depicted scenes one can recognize fundamental episodes of the life of Christ and the Virgin, such as the Nativity, the Presentation at the Temple, the Baptism of Christ, the Entry into Jerusalem, the Transfiguration, the Crucifixion, the Resurrection (Anastasis), the Ascension, and the Dormition of the Virgin, in accordance with a canonical and deeply symbolic iconographic arrangement.

The figures, painted according to the rigorous canons of Orthodox tradition, are characterized by stylized faces, gilded halos, and solemn gestures, while the gilding of the background enhances the transcendent dimension of the image. The painting, executed in tempera, shows an expert hand, capable of organizing complex scenes in tight spaces without losing narrative clarity.

The icon shows signs of antiquity and devotional use, with widespread craquelure, abrasions, and small chromatic losses, in addition to a slight curvature of the panel—elements consistent with the age and authenticity of the work.

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