From the Balkans, perhaps Bulgaria, ca. 17th to 18th century CE. A fine and unusual icon, painted in egg tempera on wood, in the form of a triptych. Each figure is identified in Cyrillic cursive language, the script painted in white.

In this example, the central panel depicts Christ as Pantocrator making the sign of a blessing with his right hand and holding a closed Gospel book in his left, donning traditional red and blue robes and a halo. This type of Christ image is referred to as the Christ as Pantokrator - Pantocrator being the Greek translation of the Hebrew El Shaddai which literally translates as "all powerful" and is oftentimes more generally translated as "ruler of all" or "sustainer of all." Christ is flanked by a haloed Mary and Joseph dressed in their traditional robes, holding their hands in prayerful gesture over their chests. Beneath this scene, still on the central panel, are two figures on horseback. On the left, we have Saint George on his quest to slay the dragon, and on the right, St Dimitrios slaying the Bulgar Kaloyan (the script reads clearly "ousios Dmitrios").

The left wing depicts Saint Joseph tenderly cradling the infant Jesus swaddled in a blue blanket in his right arm while making the same gesture that Christ does in the center panel. Notice that the hand gesture is quite exaggerated and unnatural. This is because they are forming the symbols for I, C, and X - the letters that spell Christ's monogram IC XC - with their right hands. The right wing depicts one of the four evangelists (Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John) holding his gospel in his right hand and making the same sign of the blessing made by Christ and Saint Joseph. Size: 13.5" L x 10.25" H (34.3 cm x 26 cm) when open.

Provenance: Ex- Estate of M. Reiniger, Chicago, IL

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#111478

Right wing detached. Expected surface wear and minor paint losses as shown. Paint shows nice crazing. Chips and abrasions to lower right of central panel and right wing as shown. Overall good condition for this rare example.