Icon - Nicholas the Wonderworker - Wood
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Selected by Justus Heutink
Holds broad knowledge of religious icons with six years of collecting experience.
Estimate € 300 - € 400
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Description from the seller
Icon of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker
Russian School, 19th Century
Origin: European private collection
Region: Russia
Period: 19th Century
Material: Egg tempera and silver leaf on wood panel
Style: Russian Orthodox iconography
Orthodox icon depicting Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, in a frontal half-length composition, with a circular halo and episcopal blessing gesture in accordance with the Byzantine canon. The saint wears an omophorion decorated with crosses and holds the opened Gospel with an inscription in ecclesiastical Cyrillic. On both sides of the halo are the usual secondary figures of Christ and the Virgin, who respectively hand him the Gospel and the omophorion, a traditional iconographic motif associated with Saint Nicholas and widely spread in Russian iconography.
The work is executed in egg tempera on a prepared wooden panel (levkas) with a traditional gesso ground and a silver leaf background, originally polished and later patinated through warm glazes. The natural tarnishing of the silver now yields golden and ochre tones, a characteristic phenomenon of 19th-century Russian icons and clearly observable in the background and halo. The modeling of the face, with severe and expressive features, is built up with successive layers of ochres and greenish tones, with fine and sure strokes in the eyebrows, eyes, beard, and hair, following schemes inherited from medieval tradition, reinterpreted within the devotional Russian production of the nineteenth century. Identifying inscriptions in Cyrillic, partially preserved, reinforce its liturgical and devotional character.
Stylistically, the icon corresponds to a 19th-century Russian production faithful to canonical models, conceived for domestic or parish worship. The balanced composition, the hieratic treatment of the face, and the use of patinated silver leaf attest to a traditional execution, detached from modern or industrial reproductions.
The state of preservation is consistent with its age: there is widespread craquelure, localized losses of polychromy and metallic coating, surface abrasions and wear in the most exposed areas, as well as natural oxidation of the varnish. The reverse panel shows signs of use and aging, with no evidence of invasive modern restorations. It preserves an authentic historical patina that reinforces its reading as an antique icon.
Authentic Russian 19th-century icon of correct iconographic quality and notable visual presence, suitable for a specialized collection of Orthodox icons or for display in a historical-devotional context.
Shipping: We ship only to European countries.
Seller's Story
I am an antiquarian passionate about sacred art, religious icons, and the spiritual manifestations of art in all its forms. I have always been fascinated by the dialogue between faith, aesthetics, and history, which is why my collection ranges from European devotional carvings, reliquaries and terracotta figures to Byzantine icons, Oriental works, and pieces from Asia.
I like discovering objects that transmit soul, that preserve the imprint of time and the devotion with which they were created. I enjoy studying their origin, their technique, and their historical context, always seeking authenticity and the beauty that makes them unique.
In addition to religious art, I am also drawn to curiosities and singular pieces from the ancient and colonial worlds—those that tell stories through materials and symbols. My work as an antiquarian is, above all, a way of preserving memory and sharing with others the spiritual and artistic value of each object.
Translated by Google TranslateIcon of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker
Russian School, 19th Century
Origin: European private collection
Region: Russia
Period: 19th Century
Material: Egg tempera and silver leaf on wood panel
Style: Russian Orthodox iconography
Orthodox icon depicting Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, in a frontal half-length composition, with a circular halo and episcopal blessing gesture in accordance with the Byzantine canon. The saint wears an omophorion decorated with crosses and holds the opened Gospel with an inscription in ecclesiastical Cyrillic. On both sides of the halo are the usual secondary figures of Christ and the Virgin, who respectively hand him the Gospel and the omophorion, a traditional iconographic motif associated with Saint Nicholas and widely spread in Russian iconography.
The work is executed in egg tempera on a prepared wooden panel (levkas) with a traditional gesso ground and a silver leaf background, originally polished and later patinated through warm glazes. The natural tarnishing of the silver now yields golden and ochre tones, a characteristic phenomenon of 19th-century Russian icons and clearly observable in the background and halo. The modeling of the face, with severe and expressive features, is built up with successive layers of ochres and greenish tones, with fine and sure strokes in the eyebrows, eyes, beard, and hair, following schemes inherited from medieval tradition, reinterpreted within the devotional Russian production of the nineteenth century. Identifying inscriptions in Cyrillic, partially preserved, reinforce its liturgical and devotional character.
Stylistically, the icon corresponds to a 19th-century Russian production faithful to canonical models, conceived for domestic or parish worship. The balanced composition, the hieratic treatment of the face, and the use of patinated silver leaf attest to a traditional execution, detached from modern or industrial reproductions.
The state of preservation is consistent with its age: there is widespread craquelure, localized losses of polychromy and metallic coating, surface abrasions and wear in the most exposed areas, as well as natural oxidation of the varnish. The reverse panel shows signs of use and aging, with no evidence of invasive modern restorations. It preserves an authentic historical patina that reinforces its reading as an antique icon.
Authentic Russian 19th-century icon of correct iconographic quality and notable visual presence, suitable for a specialized collection of Orthodox icons or for display in a historical-devotional context.
Shipping: We ship only to European countries.
Seller's Story
I am an antiquarian passionate about sacred art, religious icons, and the spiritual manifestations of art in all its forms. I have always been fascinated by the dialogue between faith, aesthetics, and history, which is why my collection ranges from European devotional carvings, reliquaries and terracotta figures to Byzantine icons, Oriental works, and pieces from Asia.
I like discovering objects that transmit soul, that preserve the imprint of time and the devotion with which they were created. I enjoy studying their origin, their technique, and their historical context, always seeking authenticity and the beauty that makes them unique.
In addition to religious art, I am also drawn to curiosities and singular pieces from the ancient and colonial worlds—those that tell stories through materials and symbols. My work as an antiquarian is, above all, a way of preserving memory and sharing with others the spiritual and artistic value of each object.
Translated by Google TranslateDetails
Era
1400-1900
Iconography
Nicholas the Wonderworker
Material
Wood
Country of origin
Russia
Height
30.5 cm
Width
26 cm
Depth
2 cm
Condition
Fair condition - heavily used & with possibly minor parts missing
Estimated period
1850-1900
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