19th century Russian icon.
"The Three Wise Men.
Painting on wood.
Measurements: 31 x 26.5 x 3 cm.
The three central characters probably represent the kings of the East. They wear sumptuous tunics and carry chests in which they must have brought myrrh and gold. The difference in size with respect to the two saints flanking them points to the hierarchical distance between them. This is a characteristic feature of Russian icons and Byzantine painting. The scene is dominated by the Holy Face. The gilding of the background emphasises the chromatic intensity of the robes and brocade cloaks.
Orthodox icons are part of a tradition that is alien to representational painting. In icons everything has a symbolism: the colour must express the inner luminosity, a light that does not come from the physical world. In them there is no usual space either, just as there are no conventional events. The icon is a window onto a world of a spiritual nature.