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18th C. Russian Wooden Icon - Old Believers
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Description
Eastern Europe, Russia, ca. 1710 CE. A wonderfully stylized wood icon, painted in the strict manner of the Old Believers of Russian Orthodoxy, recalling the Byzantine icons painted nearly a millennium before this one. The scene is divided into four quadrants, watched over by God the Father from above, with a dove below Him representing the Holy Spirit, and with a smaller representation of the Virgin Mary's full body in the border of the left side. Size: 15.25" W x 17.25" H (38.7 cm x 43.8 cm)The top left quadrant shows the Virgin Enthroned, a solemn portrait of Mary as queen with a large crown. She holds Christ on her lap. This icon draws upon the dogma of the Council of Ephesus, which established Mary's divine maternity in 431 CE. In the top right quadrant, the artist has painted the Icon of the Mother of God "Of the Three Hands". The third hand is seen at the bottom; it is larger than Mary's and a different color. This icon subject comes from the 8th century, during the time of the iconoclasts. The monk Saint John of Damascus was slandered by the Emperor Leo II, who told the caliph that John was committing treasonous acts against him. The caliph had his hand cut off; John put the severed hand to its joint and fell, praying, before an icon of Mary, who he begged to heal him. When he awoke the next morning, after a night of dreaming about Mary, he found that his hand was unharmed. In thanks, he put a silver hand before Her icon.In the lower left, the artist has painted the bust of Saint Nicholas. St. Nicholas is one of the favorite saints of Orthodox Christianity, a priest who fervently studied scripture from the earliest age, and who ultimately became a bishop renowned for his kindness to his flock and his zeal in fighting false gods. He attended the First Ecumenical Council in 325 CE and helped proclaim the Nicean Symbol of Faith. As a sign of his learnedness, here he holds a book; smaller figures of Christ and Mary stand on either side of him. In the lower right quadrant, the head of John the Baptist is depicted in a goblet filled with blood that seems to be located within a garden. John is a very popular, venerated saint in Orthodox countries; he is seen as the last and greatest of the Old Testament prophets. King Herod beheaded him to please Salome, and there are stories of his head being miraculously found three times, making paintings of it severed particularly popular. The garden background speaks to the sanctity of garden spaces within monasteries, seen as places for study and meditation. Provenance: Ex-private Ventura County, CA collection Condition: In excellent condition for its age, with small losses to paint only along the edges and in one area of the Christ Child's robe in the upper right. Back slats are gone, but some small losses to the wood on the back suggest they were probably nailed in place at one time. All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience. #121485
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Eastern Europe, Russia, ca. 1710 CE. A wonderfully stylized wood icon, painted in the strict manner of the Old Believers of Russian Orthodoxy, recalling the Byzantine icons painted nearly a millennium before this one. The scene is divided into four quadrants, watched over by God the Father from above, with a dove below Him representing the Holy Spirit, and with a smaller representation of the Virgin Mary's full body in the border of the left side. Size: 15.25" W x 17.25" H (38.7 cm x 43.8 cm)The top left quadrant shows the Virgin Enthroned, a solemn portrait of Mary as queen with a large crown. She holds Christ on her lap. This icon draws upon the dogma of the Council of Ephesus, which established Mary's divine maternity in 431 CE. In the top right quadrant, the artist has painted the Icon of the Mother of God "Of the Three Hands". The third hand is seen at the bottom; it is larger than Mary's and a different color. This icon subject comes from the 8th century, during the time of the iconoclasts. The monk Saint John of Damascus was slandered by the Emperor Leo II, who told the caliph that John was committing treasonous acts against him. The caliph had his hand cut off; John put the severed hand to its joint and fell, praying, before an icon of Mary, who he begged to heal him. When he awoke the next morning, after a night of dreaming about Mary, he found that his hand was unharmed. In thanks, he put a silver hand before Her icon.In the lower left, the artist has painted the bust of Saint Nicholas. St. Nicholas is one of the favorite saints of Orthodox Christianity, a priest who fervently studied scripture from the earliest age, and who ultimately became a bishop renowned for his kindness to his flock and his zeal in fighting false gods. He attended the First Ecumenical Council in 325 CE and helped proclaim the Nicean Symbol of Faith. As a sign of his learnedness, here he holds a book; smaller figures of Christ and Mary stand on either side of him. In the lower right quadrant, the head of John the Baptist is depicted in a goblet filled with blood that seems to be located within a garden. John is a very popular, venerated saint in Orthodox countries; he is seen as the last and greatest of the Old Testament prophets. King Herod beheaded him to please Salome, and there are stories of his head being miraculously found three times, making paintings of it severed particularly popular. The garden background speaks to the sanctity of garden spaces within monasteries, seen as places for study and meditation. Provenance: Ex-private Ventura County, CA collection Condition: In excellent condition for its age, with small losses to paint only along the edges and in one area of the Christ Child's robe in the upper right. Back slats are gone, but some small losses to the wood on the back suggest they were probably nailed in place at one time. All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience. #121485
Important Rare Russian Icons & Religious Art
Sale Date(s)
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P.O. BOX 714
Erie
Colorado
80516
United States
For Artemis Gallery LIVE delivery information please telephone +1 7208907700.
Important Information
Featuring a superb grouping of 18th and 19th century Russian icons from the esteemed collection of Lilly and Francis Robicsek, Charlotte, NC. Acquired over the past 50 years, many of these icons were exhibited at The Mint Museum of Art?s special exhibit, Windows Into Heaven, and published in their respective catalog. Also from the same collection are incredible and rare Spanish Colonial santos from Latin America, collected by the Robiscek's in Mexico, El Salvadore and Guatemala. These large, fine and incredibly detailed examples date from the 18th to 19th century.
Terms & Conditions
The following are the TERMS OF SALE for bidding in Live Auction, Wednesday, March 23, 2017.
AUCTION will start at 8 a.m. MT, 10 p.m. EST, 7 a.m. PST - Live Online / Absentee Bidding only.
Please read the following "Terms of Sale" carefully. These terms are applicable to all bidders in this auction, collectors and dealers alike. Please do not bid in this auction if you do not agree to all of the terms listed below. Your submission of bids in this auction constitutes your acceptance of these "Terms of Sale."
1. All items in this auction have been legally acquired, are legal to sell, and guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
2. This is an auction sale, not an approval sale. By bidding in this auction, the bidder personally guarantees payment. The auctioneer has final discretion in all matters. In case of dispute, the lot(s) in question may be resold. Lots will be sold in their numerical sequence unless the auctioneer directs otherwise.
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7. RETURN POLICY: If our description of the item is not as described, we will accept return of the item; however, WE MUST HAVE WRITTEN NOTIFICATION OF RETURN WITHIN TWO BUSINESS DAYS FROM RECEIPT OF ITEM BY BIDDER, as shown by FedEx, UPS or USPS tracking data, and the item must be received by us within ten days in the condition received. A written letter from a recognized expert in the field pertaining to the item in dispute must be presented for refund. No lots may be returned without prior written consent. Late remittance constitutes just cause for revocation of all return privileges. Return shipping is at the bidder's expense. In no event may any lot(s) be returned after fifteen (15) days from the date of the auction. As of April 10, 2017 ALL SALES ARE FINAL.
8. BIDDING will be conducted ONLINE / LIVE as the auction progresses. Bidders may place their bids LIVE, via PHONE or by leaving ABSENTEE BIDS via the Live Auctioneers auction catalog. Please keep in mind that Phone Bids will be accepted on a limited basis and must be arranged in advance.
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17. QUESTIONS? Feel free to email us at info@artemisgallery.com with questions prior to bidding or feel free to call us at 720-890-7700. Please be sure to ask all questions at least 30 minutes prior to auction start time, as we will not be able to take calls or answer emails sent to us during the auction.
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