Composite Russian icon depicting "Christological Scenes, Saint George, and a host of chosen saints", Early XX century

Egg tempera on panel

Height x width: 87 x 47.5 cm

Characterized by a sophisticated division into multiple compartments (registers), this piece is typical of the refined Russian miniature tradition of the nineteenth century. The work is structured around a central narrative grid, framed by figures of saints along the side and upper borders. The top register features a dense array of Old Testament prophets and patriarchs in prayer, holding unfurled scrolls that symbolize the continuity of divine revelation. The central section consists of four main panels dedicated to significant events from the New Testament and Orthodox hagiography: in the upper left is the Meeting in the Temple (the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple, or Sretenie), while to its right is the solemn Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The lower left panel depicts the Baptism of Christ in the River Jordan (the Theophany) with great intensity, and the lower right panel contains the celebrated, dynamic scene of Saint George on horseback defeating the dragon—accompanied by an angel bearing a crown, with the hand of God appearing in the clouds above in a gesture of blessing. The bottom register of the icon presents two groups of intercessory saints and Church Fathers, depicted in hieratic, frontal poses. Along the two broad side borders (polja), arranged in several vertical tiers within dedicated niches, are full-length figures of patron saints and ascetic monks—chosen by the work’s original commissioner to provide protection for their family circle. The entire painted surface displays extraordinary calligraphic skill—evident in the Muscovite-style architectural details in the background, the dramatic drapery accented with fine golden highlights, and the delicate rendering of the faces—all enhanced by a gold ground and warm brown and ochre tones that lend the work an intense sense of the sacred and an atemporal dimension.