**Originally Listed At $600**

Eastern Europe, Russia, ca. 19th century CE. Finely delineated in egg tempera on gesso on wood, a beautiful icon of the Christian martyr Boniface, patron saint of Germania who is known as "Apostle of the Germans." Little is known about this saint. What we do know is that he was the slave of a wealthy Roman woman named Aglaida, and cohabitated with her. In order to absolve themselves of their sins, Aglaida sent Boniface to bring her relics of the holy martyrs in order to attain salvation. She made arrangements for him to go to the East where there was tremendous persecution against Christians. Boniface was executed for being Christian in 307 at Tarsus. Size: 12" L x 10.625" W (30.5 cm x 27 cm)

Icons (icon means "image" in Greek) are sacred objects within the Eastern Orthodox Christian tradition. Traditionally found in homes as well as churches, these painted images depict holy persons and saints as well as illustrate scenes from the Scriptures. Icons are not worshiped, but are instead venerated for their ability to focus the power of an individual's prayer to God. As such they are truly "windows into heaven."

Provenance: private New Jersey, USA collection

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#162103

Missing back slats. Normal wear commensurate with age with nicks/chips to the peripheries and a few small surface fissures to border. Some loss to pigment around the border as shown. The painted image is generally very good with lovely craquelure and a few areas of repainting. Label on verso reads, "Martyr Boniface." Hole at top center of verso likely once used for display.