Icon - Large-format icon with Saint John the Forerunner from a Deesis panel - 18th century. - Wood

Large-format Icon of Saint John the Forerunner from a Deesis

Russia, 18th century

Composite of two boards with two back-side pegs, one lost, Kowtscheg, egg tempera on chalk ground, garment folds in shell gold.

Dimensions 53 cm x 42 cm

This icon comes from the flowering period of Russian icon painting in the 18th century. It shows Saint John the Baptist (in the Orthodox tradition referred to as "the Forerunner") from a Deesis group. The Russian word "Deesis" derives from the Greek term for "supplication" or "intercession".

Notably, the folds of the baroque garment with the delicate shell-gold elevations stand out.

They testify to the high artistic painting quality of this collectible icon.