Eastern Europe, Russia, ca. late 19th century CE. A breathtaking festal icon expertly delineated in egg tempera, gold leaf, and gesso on wood featuring the Resurrection of Christ in the center -as the central theme - this "feast of feasts" celebrated not only on Easter but every Sunday. Surrounding this are 12 scenes depicting the events of Holy Thursday and Holy Friday. These scenes are then surrounded by 16 images of feast days celebrated on the liturgical calendar. In the corners are the four Evangelists (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), each one seated in his scriptorium, before a table with an inkwell, holding his Gospel, revealed by a pulled curtain. Size: 15" W x 17.5" H (38.1 cm x 44.4 cm)

The iconography of complex icons like this example that combine festal and paschal scenes was very popular in Russia during the 18th and 19th centuries. Similar to the larger minyeia or calendar icons, festal icons feature a Resurrection image in the center surrounded by 12 scenes of Holy Thursday and Holy Friday, these surrounded by 16 images of feast days celebrated on the liturgical calendar. The only exceptions on this example are two of the outer scenes - Hospitality of Abraham presumably representing the Trinity in the upper middle and the Ascension of Elijah at the bottom; these are not feast days.

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. 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: ex-Francis & Lilly Robicsek collection, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

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#119533

Expected surface wear with losses as shown and some fissures, commensurate with age. Intact back slats.