Icon - Four saints - Limewood

Russian Quadripartite Icon – Saint Nicholas, Mother of God, Saint George, and Saint Charalampus – 20th Century
Refined Russian icon of the 20th century made with egg tempera on a wooden panel. This type of icon, defined as 'quadripartite', is particularly sought after in the collectors' market for its narrative density and the ability to unite in a single artifact the major protective figures of the Orthodox faith.
Iconography and Field Analysis
The icon is divided into four distinct sections, separated by an inner painted cross:
- In the upper left: Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker (Nikola Ugodnik). The saint is depicted in episcopal robes (omophorion) while he bears the Gospel. On the sides, among the clouds, Christ and the Virgin appear in miniature, testifying to his divine dignity. He is the saint par excellence for the protection of travelers and the needy.
- In the upper right: Mother of God "Odigitria" (Smolenskaya). One of the most venerated Marian icons, where the Virgin points to the Child Jesus as "the Way". The color rendering still reveals the richness of the original pigments beneath the patina of time.
- Bottom left: Saint Caralampo (Aralampio). A figure of great rarity and devotional value. Depicted as a hieratic old man with a long white beard and a scroll of prayers. Saint Caralampo is invoked in Russian tradition as a protector against epidemics and sudden death, making this icon a powerful domestic "amulet".
- In the bottom right: Saint George and the Dragon. A dynamic and classical depiction of the Holy Knight piercing the dragon, a symbol of the triumph of Faith over evil. Note the detail of the divine hand blessing the scene from above.
Technical Details and Conservation
- Support: A solid wood board, entirely handmade. The back shows the typical signs of 20th-century manual planing and features rails for the Sponki (dovetail reinforcement crosspieces). One sponka is present and original. Measurements: 34 cm x 29 cm x 1.3 cm
- Background: The background in gold leaf (or imitation gold) shows a beautiful natural oxidation and the characteristic "olifa" (protective varnish based on linseed oil) that has darkened over time, giving the icon an aura of genuine antiquity.
Conservation status: The icon is presented in its original, unrestored condition. There is a noticeable natural vertical crack due to the wood's movement over time, which does not compromise the panel's solidity but confirms its period. Light color losses at the edges, consistent with its age.
Unlike the icons restored to 'like-new' condition, this specimen preserves its historical integrity. The presence of Saint Caralampo, less common than traditional saints, elevates its collecting and commercial appeal.
The painterly style and the choice of saints, in particular the presence of Saint Caralampo, suggest a production tied to the traditionalist workshops of Central Russia or to the Old Believers' communities.

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