Originally listed at $700...

Eastern Europe, Russia, ca. 19th century CE. A stunning wooden icon depicting the Resurrection of Christ and the Harrowing of Hell, all delineated in vibrant egg tempera on gesso with lustrous areas of silvering and lightly etched floral motifs embellishing the border. Surrounded by a mandorla, the son of God is shown at the top of the composition rising from his coffin with angels - who rolled away the stone and declared his resurrection to Mary Magdalene - to his right as Saint Peter inspects the empty tomb behind them. To his left, one sees Christ appearing to the apostle Thomas, who doubted he had risen at the top with the scene of Christ materializing to the apostles on the Sea of Tiberias below. A victorious Christ stands at the center of the lower half, surrounded by a grander mandorla as he releases the repentant from Hades, grasping Adam by the hand and dramatically pulling him from the jaws of Hell with Eve and other Old Testament women in supplication. Size without frame: 11.5" W x 13.3" H (29.2 cm x 33.8 cm); of frame: 18.1" W x 19.6" H (46 cm x 49.8 cm)

All fit in a custom frame with a suspension cord for easy display!

Icons were some of the first religious artworks brought to Russia from Byzantium. These sacred pictures reached a high point in the Byzantine era; however, the Russians brought their own style to the art of the icon. Icons were initially created for use in churches and processions. In time they became smaller and were used increasingly within households. To this day they remain an important form of visual culture in Russia's orthodox religious community. Icons (icon means "image" in Greek) are sacred objects within the Eastern Orthodox Christian tradition. 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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#176265

Missing back slats. Professionally repaired and restored with repainting over break line. Small area of loss to lower left corner with some chipping to peripheries. Expected nicks and fissures to wood, as well as old insect holes to verso, but otherwise icon has great remaining pigments and silvering. Set in custom frame with suspension wire on verso for display.