Icon - Christ Pantocrator - Wood

Christ Pantocrator, one of the most important representations of Byzantine and Russian Orthodox iconography. Christ appears facing forward, blessing with the right hand and holding the Gospel with the left.

- Christ Pantocrator: it means “Almighty” or “Lord of all things.” It is the image of Jesus Christ as judge, sovereign of the universe, and savior of humanity.
- Golden nimbus: the halo symbolizes his holiness and divinity. The letters of the nimbus correspond to the traditional Greek inscription that means “He who is,” linked to the divine name.
- Right hand: performs the blessing gesture typical of Orthodox iconography.
- Book in the left hand: represents the Gospel and Christ’s authority as teacher and judge. In this piece it appears to be closed.
- Robes: the reddish tunic and the dark mantle respond to a chromatic combination common in icons of Christ.

In the upper right you can distinguish IC XC, the Greek abbreviation of Iēsous Christos, that is, Jesus Christ.

The inscriptions located on either side of the head correspond to the traditional designation of Christ as “Lord” and “Almighty.”

- Dark background with a golden nimbus.
- Painting on a rigid wooden support.
- Intense craquelure on the face and the garments.
- Losses of polychromy and wear on the inscriptions.
- Red-brown peripheral frame.