64 - Russian icon depicting the Crucifixion of Christ with the Kazan Mother of God, Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, and warrior saints—early 19th century

Russian icon depicting the Crucifixion of Christ with the Kazan Mother of God, Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, and warrior saints—early 19th century Tempera on panel Height x width: 36.5 x 30 cm Icon depicting the Crucifixion of Christ, the central subject of the composition, accompanied by a complex devotional program including the Kazan Mother of God, Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, and two mounted warrior saints—most likely Saint George and Saint Demetrius—all of whom were especially venerated within the Russian Orthodox tradition.The composition is arranged according to a four-part scheme dominated by the large wooden cross at the center, upon which Christ is depicted as dead, with His head bowed and His body gracefully rendered in accordance with the Byzantine iconographic tradition. Flanking the cross are the Mother of God and Saint John the Evangelist, portrayed in poses of sorrowful contemplation in keeping with the traditional iconography of the Crucifixion. In the upper left panel appears the Kazan Mother of God, depicted in half-length with the Christ Child—one of the most revered Marian images of Imperial Russia. Opposite her is Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, depicted in episcopal vestments, blessing with his right hand while holding the Gospel in his left. Between these two principal figures is a small image of the Mother of God set within a niche, further emphasizing the devotional character of the composition.The lower panel depicts two mounted warrior saints armed with lances, most likely Saint George and Saint Demetrius, shown riding horses of different colors according to an iconographic scheme widely used in Russian iconography of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Their presence alongside the Crucifixion and the figures of the Virgin and Saint Nicholas underscores the protective function of the icon, intended for private devotion.The gilded background and broad red border, together with the restrained composition and identifying Slavonic inscriptions, reflect the tradition of provincial Russian icon painting, distinguished by its sober yet profoundly symbolic visual language. This type of composite icon enjoyed widespread popularity throughout central Russia between the late eighteenth century and the first half of the nineteenth century. By uniting the principal subjects of popular devotion within a single panel, it enabled the faithful to invoke in a single image the protection of the Crucified Christ, the Mother of God, and the saints most frequently invoked in everyday life.Based on its stylistic characteristics, painting technique, iconographic arrangement, and the construction of the wooden support, this work may be attributed to a Russian workshop active between the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Item condition rating: **** good. The lot is in good condition, with normal wear and defects commensurate with its age and use over time. The painted surface is in fair overall condition, with widespread craquelure in the ground layer and paint film consistent with the icon’s age. Visible are surface abrasions, wear along the edges, oxidation-related alterations to the silver leaf, and numerous small holes distributed across the entire surface, attributable to the former attachment of a metal riza, now lost.The wooden support appears generally stable and consistent with traditional construction techniques. The reverse side shows normal signs of age and use, with no evidence of invasive structural restorations. Overall, the icon retains good legibility of the composition and holds significant historical, devotional, and collector’s interest.