Icon - John the Forerunner - Wood - Saint John the Baptist
04
days
20
hours
22
minutes
40
seconds
Current bid
€ 2
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Justus Heutink
Holds broad knowledge of religious icons with six years of collecting experience.
Estimate € 250 - € 300
11 other people are watching this object
 | €2 | |
|---|---|---|
 | €1 |
Catawiki Buyer Protection
Your payment’s safe with us until you receive your object.View details
Trustpilot 4.4 | 135881 reviews
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot.
Description from the seller
Antique Russian icon (18th-19th century) of Saint John the Baptist "The Forerunner" with Christ Emmanuel in the Eucharistic chalice
In auction an fascinating and ancient Russian icon depicting Saint John the Baptist (the Forerunner) in a powerful representation rich in theological and Eucharistic meaning. The work is painted in tempera on a solid wooden panel, characterized by a textured surface and an authentic patina of the time.
Saint John the Baptist is depicted bust-length, with ascetic features typical of the Eastern tradition: a beard and long, unkempt hair recalling his life of penance in the desert. He wears the typical garment of camel’s hair covered by a dark mantle.
The symbolic centerpiece of the icon unfolds in the Saint's hands:
The Eucharistic Chalice: In the left hand, Saint John holds a golden chalice in whose interior is depicted the Child Jesus (Christ Emmanuel), laid out and blessing. This iconography directly refers to the words of the Forerunner: "Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29), linking the figure of the Baptist to the mystery of the Eucharist.
The Cartouche: Under the chalice, John holds an unrolled cartouche with an inscription in ancient Ecclesiastical Slavic, partially legible, reporting his testimony and the call to conversion.
The Gesture of Indication/Blessing:
The right hand is raised in a gesture that is both a blessing (with the fingers forming the monogram of Christ) and an indication toward the Savior in the chalice.
The icon is a classic example of Russian sacred painting, executed with a palette of warm earth tones (ocher, browns and golden accents in the aureole and in the chalice).
The surface presents a dense and fascinating lattice of *craquelure* and small losses of pigment due to age, especially along the outer edges and the lower band of the panel, which accentuate its historical character without detracting from the beauty of the main subject.
Shipping tracked accurately
Antique Russian icon (18th-19th century) of Saint John the Baptist "The Forerunner" with Christ Emmanuel in the Eucharistic chalice
In auction an fascinating and ancient Russian icon depicting Saint John the Baptist (the Forerunner) in a powerful representation rich in theological and Eucharistic meaning. The work is painted in tempera on a solid wooden panel, characterized by a textured surface and an authentic patina of the time.
Saint John the Baptist is depicted bust-length, with ascetic features typical of the Eastern tradition: a beard and long, unkempt hair recalling his life of penance in the desert. He wears the typical garment of camel’s hair covered by a dark mantle.
The symbolic centerpiece of the icon unfolds in the Saint's hands:
The Eucharistic Chalice: In the left hand, Saint John holds a golden chalice in whose interior is depicted the Child Jesus (Christ Emmanuel), laid out and blessing. This iconography directly refers to the words of the Forerunner: "Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29), linking the figure of the Baptist to the mystery of the Eucharist.
The Cartouche: Under the chalice, John holds an unrolled cartouche with an inscription in ancient Ecclesiastical Slavic, partially legible, reporting his testimony and the call to conversion.
The Gesture of Indication/Blessing:
The right hand is raised in a gesture that is both a blessing (with the fingers forming the monogram of Christ) and an indication toward the Savior in the chalice.
The icon is a classic example of Russian sacred painting, executed with a palette of warm earth tones (ocher, browns and golden accents in the aureole and in the chalice).
The surface presents a dense and fascinating lattice of *craquelure* and small losses of pigment due to age, especially along the outer edges and the lower band of the panel, which accentuate its historical character without detracting from the beauty of the main subject.
Shipping tracked accurately
Details
Era
1400-1900
Iconography
John the Forerunner
Title additional information
Saint John the Baptist
Number of objects
1
Material
Wood
Country of origin
Russia
Height
32 cm
Width
27 cm
Depth
3 cm
Condition
Good condition - used with small signs of aging & blemishes
Style
Antique
Estimated period
1750-1800
Sold by
