19th century Russian icon.
"Holy Martyr Trypho".
Oil on panel.
Measurements: 13 x 10,5 cm.
The life of St. Trypho is recorded in the Acts of Martyrdom, written in Latin dating back to the early Christian era and revised and completed in the 10th century by Simeon Metafraste. In the 16th century, in Russia, the martyr's life was complemented by a posthumous miracle that led to the veneration of St. Tryphon as the patron saint of hunters. It is said that during a hunt his favorite falcon flew away. After three days of fruitless searching for the bird, the falconer Tryphon Patrikeev prayed to his patron saint, the martyr Tryphon, and then fell asleep. A young man on a white horse with a royal falcon in his hands appeared to him in a dream and spoke words of comfort. In the morning, the falconer found the bird in a nearby tree, brought it to the tsar and told him of the help of St. Tryphon. On the place of the vision of the dream the church of St. Tryphon was erected in Moscow.
Representations of St. Trypho are very rare in Russian iconography. The martyr is usually depicted next to the falcon, or equestrian. In this case, the icon of interest does not follow the pre-established canon, St. Typhon is depicted standing looking at the representation of the God in the upper left corner. However, despite this detail, it is a very interesting and rare example of orthodox iconography.