Eastern Europe, Russia, ca. 1875 CE. Finely painted in egg tempera, gold leaf, and gesso on linen and wood, a beautiful icon depicting Christ dressed in jewel tone red and blue vestments, his right hand delivering a gesture of benediction, his left hand pointing toward the table before him with the Holy Gospel, a golden chalice and vessel presumably for the wine and bread symbolic of the blood and body of Christ in the Eucharist rite. The inscription to His left and right most likely refer to "Take, eat, this is the body of-me / Drink of it all [of you], this is the blood of-me" from Matthew 26:26-28. Size: 13.375" L x 11.5" W (34 cm x 29.2 cm)
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: private New Jersey, USA collection
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#143389
Condition
Areas of craquelure to the pigment. Areas of repair/restoration to the lower third of the composition. Possible areas of repainting to the border and areas of robes, but well done and imagery is quite vivid and skillfully executed.