Icon - Feast day icon - Wood

BIG antique Russian "Feast Days" from the 19th century (circa 1880).

Hand-painted with egg tempera colors on a wooden panel with a chalk ground and a gold under-coating.

Typical method of icon painting in the 18th and 19th centuries in Tsarist Russia. The motif is rather widespread and very popular in the Orthodox Church.

This is an Old Believer icon, apparently produced on commission. The painting is quite masterful and detailed (see photos).

Perfectly coordinated color contrasts and successful shading. The painting contains very authentic craquelure (see photos).

The style and color design of the icon suggest that it was produced in the well-known “Vetka” village of painters.

Partial restorations are present (see photos). The faces of the saints are particularly expressive and striking (see photos). The saints are inscribed. The inscriptions are well legible.

On the back, both cross-spindles are missing.

Stable and solid wooden panel. The icon is in good condition with typical signs of aging (see photos).

The back of the icon contains many holes from wood-boring beetles. The beetle is probably still active. Wood shavings protrude from some holes.

The front (paint) also contains a few holes from beetles (see photos)!

An icon for collectors and connoisseurs of the subject.

All details are clearly visible in the photos. The photos are part of the description.

Dimensions: 53 x 45 x 3.5 cm