Icon - Jesus - Wood - Christ Pantocrator

Traditional Russian icon, painted with tempera on a wooden board. The subject is Jesus Christ, depicted in half-figure bust as the “Pantocrator” (Almighty), one of the most important iconographic representations in Orthodox art. The icon dates to the end of the 18th century or to the beginning of the 19th century.

Description of the Figure of Christ
Christ is depicted frontally, with a severe yet compassionate expression. He has long, wavy brown hair, central parting (typical of the Pantocrator) and falling over the shoulders. His beard is short and neat. He has large dark, penetrating eyes, a straight nose, and closed lips. A golden halo surrounds his head.

Apparel: He wears an ochre-orange tunic (chiton), decorated with gold details and a bordered collar. Over the tunic he bears a dark cloak (himation) (brown or gray), featuring stylized motifs, almost floral or feather-like, on the lower left and on the right shoulder.

Gestures: With the right hand, raised in a gesture of blessing, Christ touches the thumb with the ring finger and little finger, symbolizing the divine and human natures. The left hand holds an open book.

The Gospel and Inscriptions

The Open Gospel: The book Christ holds is an open Gospel. On the two visible pages a text in Slavonic Cyrillic characters, faded but partially legible, reads: "ПРИДѢТЕ КО МНѢ ВСИ ТРУЖДАЮЩІИСЯ И ОБРЕМЕНЕННІИ, И АЗЪ УПОКОЮ ВЫ" (Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest — Matthew 11:28).

Upper Inscriptions: On the bright orange background that frames the figure, there are several Cyrillic inscriptions:

Top left: "ОБРАЗЪ ГСДНЯ" (Image of the Lord). Below, the letters "IC" (Iesous, Jesus).

Top right: "ВСЕДЕРЖИТЕЛЬ" (Pantocrator/Almighty). Above, the letters "XC" (Christos, Christ).

The letters "IC" and "XC" are the traditional monogram of Jesus Christ.

Background, Border and Condition

Background and Border: The figure of Christ is set against a dark gray-brown inner background, framed by a black inner border. The entire piece has a wide outer border of bright orange, textured, bordered by an external black line.

Condition: The icon shows clear signs of age and wear, which contribute to its ancient character. The paint surface is crossed by a fine, widespread craquelure, especially on the orange edge and on Christ’s tunic. There are scratches, dents, losses of paint along the edges and in the more exposed areas, and some accumulated dirt stains. The edges of the wooden board are worn and chipped. The ground layer (gesso) is visible in some spots where the paint is missing.

Artistic Summary
The icon is an excellent example of traditional Russian iconography, with an archaizing style and attention to symbolic and textual details. Its lived condition gives it historical authenticity and spiritual charm.

Notes on shipping and customs: The item ships from Geneva, Switzerland. For this reason, delivery times to European Union countries may be slightly longer than usual due to standard customs clearance procedures. I would also remind you that, since Switzerland is outside the EU customs area, import taxes, local VAT, and customs duties are the buyer’s full responsibility and will be collected by your country’s authorities upon delivery. I recommend informing yourself in advance to avoid surprises.

Pickup and Packing: Alternatively to shipping, if you have the possibility, in-person pickup in Geneva is always the option I most prefer and strongly recommend, as it will eliminate transport costs and ensure maximum safety for the work. If shipping is chosen, I will do my best to pack it to protect the painting during transit.