Icon - Crucifixion of Christ - Wood - four-part icon

Russian four-panel icon with the Crucifixion of Christ and patron saints – circa 1800 Origin: Russia Dating: Circa 1800, late 18th / early 19th century Technique: Tempera on wooden panel Dimensions: 35 × 29 cm A remarkable Russian Orthodox icon with a richly developed, multi-part composition around the central Crucifixion of Christ. The composition is divided into four main panels, in which important saints and protective figures from the Russian Orthodox tradition are depicted. In the center is Christ on the cross, flanked by the grieving figures of the Mother of God and John the Evangelist. Above the cross appears God the Father, seated on a cloud. The four surrounding scenes show: Top left: The Mother of God of Kazan (Kazanskaja Bogomater), with the Christ Child. This particularly revered Marian icon is regarded as one of the most important protective images within Russian Orthodoxy. Top right: Saint Nicholas of Myra, also known as Nicholas the Wonderworker, depicted in episcopal vestments, blessing and holding the Gospel book in his hand. Bottom left: Archangel Michael, as commander of the heavenly army, seated on a fiery red winged horse. He bears a trumpet and other attributes referring to the Apocalypse and the Last Judgment. Bottom right: Saint George the Dragon-Slayer, depicted as an armored rider on a white horse, slaying the dragon with his spear. The scene symbolizes the triumph of good over evil. The icon is characterized by bold color usage with vermilion red, deep blue, ochre yellow and dark earth tones. The stylized figures, distinctive expressions and traditional iconography are in line with Russian folk icon painting. Such composite icons were produced for private devotion and domestic use. By bringing together several revered saints and miraculous scenes on a single panel, the icon served as a versatile religious protective object. Condition and provenance: The icon shows signs of age and use, including craquelure, localized paint loss and wear to the painting. On the reverse there is an older German-language documentation card, describing the depiction as Vierbilder-Ikone, with a dating around 1800. According to this documentation, the icon was auctioned on 27 November 1969 at the Lempertz auction house in Cologne, as lot number 360 of the 505th sale. There is also a restoration note dated 25 January 1975 in Recklinghausen.

Estimate:£629

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