Russian Icon with Four Saints, second half of the 19th century

Tempera on panel

Heigth x width: 37 x 21 cm

Icon depicting four standing saints, identified by the Slavonic inscriptions placed above their respective halos. From left to right are Saint Basil the Great, Saint Alexander Nevsky, Saint Irene, and Saint Pelagia, assembled according to a devotional scheme most likely intended for a family or commemorative commission.
Saint Basil the Great is portrayed in episcopal vestments, blessing with his right hand while holding a liturgical chalice in his left, alluding to his authority as one of the Fathers of the Church and to the Divine Liturgy that bears his name.
Beside him stands Saint Alexander Nevsky, depicted as a warrior prince wearing an ermine-lined mantle and princely attire, in a solemn frontal pose. His presence emphasizes his role as a defender of the Orthodox faith and of the Russian nation.
The third figure represents Saint Irene, identifiable by the martyr's palm held in her right hand, symbolizing her Christian witness. The composition concludes with Saint Pelagia, shown with her hands joined in prayer, according to the traditional iconography of the penitent female saints.

The four figures stand against a sumptuous gold-leaf background, finely engraved and tooled with floral and vegetal motifs. Their halos are enriched with elaborate radiating and geometric ornamentation executed through engraving and punchwork. The elegant gilded border, likewise lavishly decorated, enhances the richness of the composition and is characteristic of the finest Russian icon workshops of the second half of the nineteenth century.