Russian school, 19th century. "Basil the Great, Gregory Nazianzen, John Chrysostom". Tempera on panel.

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RUSSIAN ICONS

By Setdart Auction House

Sep 23, 2021

Set Reminder 2021-09-23 10:00:00 2021-09-23 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : RUSSIAN ICONS https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/setdart-auction-house/russian-icons-7431
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• Lot Description
  Russian school, 19th century. "Basil the Great, Gregory Nazianzen, John Chrysostom". Tempera on panel. Measurements: 36 x 30.5 cm. In this icon are represented three great hierarchs, masters of the Church, outstanding theologians, writers and preachers of their time, most venerated in the countries of the Christian world. Basil the Great (c. 329-379), archbishop of Caesarea, fought the Arian heresy. His co-religionist, Gregory Nazianzen (329-389), was bishop of Sasimia and later of Nazareth. After the death of his close friend Basil the Great, he had to assume the rank of archbishop of Constantinople against his will. Gregory wrote an elaborate treatise, which interpreted sacred characters such as the Holy Trinity. Like Basil the Great, Gregory Nazianzen fought against heresies. His younger contemporary, John Chrysostom (347-407), bishop of Antioch, later patriarch of Constantinople, was deposed, exiled and died there; an outstanding interpreter of Holy Scripture. Famous as a preacher and denouncer of the sins of the powerful. Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom are the creators of the liturgy. The writings of all three hierarchs were known in Old Rus in Slavic translations by the 11th century at the latest. In accordance with their eminent position among the hierarchs of the Orthodox Church, bearers and preachers of Divine Wisdom, they were, as a rule, represented in all monumental ensembles of the 11th-12th centuries in the composition of the office of saints in the apses of churches. In Pskov, probably, the three masters of the church were honoured for a long time. Several churches were dedicated to them there. The depiction of a group of hierarchs in the pose of solemn preachers has been widespread in Russian icon painting since the 15th century. The icon of interest presents the established canon of depicting this group of saints. They are always depicted isocephalically, i.e. of the same size and height. In their hands they hold the closed Gospel, the left hand is held in a gesture of blessing with two fingers. In the case of the present icon, the three saints are accompanied by St. Nicholas the Miracle-worker, the figure on the far right. In the central register of the icon rests the icon of the Mother of God with the Child Jesus, Odighidria type, and above this composition stands the Father God. The composition also acquires a greater, almost metaphysical depth. On both sides of the icon are depictions of two venerables, smaller than the saints, thus emphasising the importance of the four protagonists in the central register.
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