Anastasis (the Descent into Hell), 19th century

Egg tempera on panel with an embroidered fabric covering

Height x width: 30 x 25 cm

This exceptionally rare and extraordinary Russian icon, dating to the second half of the 19th century, combines profound theological iconography with refined, exquisite textile craftsmanship. It is entirely encased in a covering embroidered with multicolored glass beads and small tubular beads (biser)—a celebrated, high-level artistic technique practiced in the workshops of women’s monasteries throughout the Russian Empire. The piece depicts the Anastasis (the Descent into Hell), the pivotal event of the Orthodox Easter. At the center of the composition, set within a radiant, pointed mandorla—fashioned from silver and gold beads that catch and reflect divine light—stands the triumphant figure of Christ the Savior. Victoriously, He tramples the shattered gates of Hades (represented at the bottom by dark, geometrically arranged beads) and, with a dynamic, salvific gesture, grasps the hands of the progenitors Adam and Eve, drawing them from their respective tombs—a symbol of the redemption of all humanity. Flanking the mandorla, arranged in a strict hierarchy across two symmetrical wings, are the hosts of the righteous, kings, and prophets of the Old Testament, their halos finely outlined with dark thread. The skill of the embroiderers is evident in the precise placement of the beads, which lend volume to the folds of the garments through a sophisticated interplay of color—blending warm earth tones and ochre with accents of blue, green, and burgundy—to create a three-dimensional, mosaic-like effect. In keeping with the tradition of such works, the visible anatomical features—the faces and hands—are painted in tempera on the underlying surface, emerging with hieratic delicacy through openings in the embroidery.