88 - Interceding saints surmounted by the blessing figure of Christ the Savior (Sabaoth or Christ Pantocrator amidst the clouds) - Late 19th century

Interceding saints surmounted by the blessing figure of Christ the Savior (Sabaoth or Christ Pantocrator amidst the clouds) - Late 19th century Egg tempera on panel and gold leaf Height x width: 31 x 26.5 cm At the center of the scene stands the monumental and hieratic figure of Saint John the Baptist (Ioann Predteča)—the Forerunner—depicted with a thick beard, bare feet, and the ascetic garments of the wilderness, draped in a bright green mantle. He raises his right hand in a solemn gesture of preaching and blessing, while his left hand holds an unrolled scroll inscribed with Scripture in Old Church Slavonic. To his right (on the viewer’s left) is an ascetic monk, identified by the calligraphic inscription above as Saint Nilus of Stolobny (Prepodobnyj Nil Stolobenskij)—a renowned Russian wonderworker—portrayed here in the austere monastic habit of the “great schema” (skhima), adorned with crosses and sacred geometric motifs. To the left of John the Baptist stands a female martyr—identified by the inscription as Saint Glyceria (Svjataja Mučenica Glikerija) or a similar figure from early Christianity—dressed in a maphorion and tunic in regal shades of blue and orange, her head encircled by a finely decorated halo. Above, emerging from the clouds, Christ presides over the composition, surrounded by rays of divine light. From a technical and ornamental perspective, the icon is distinguished by the extraordinary, meticulous craftsmanship of its gold background and thick outer border; these are entirely engraved and punched to create a faux-relief effect, featuring a dense pattern of floral scrolls and geometric motifs in a Neo-Byzantine style—mimicking the lavish metal riza (protective covers) of the period—and further embellished in the two upper corners with elaborate cruciform medallions. The painting style is strongly influenced by the late 19th-century academic transition, characterized by a refined naturalism in the rendering of faces, skin tones, and soft drapery, while preserving the spiritual solemnity of the Orthodox canon. H.E. Most Rev. Francisco-Javier Lozano Sebastián, Titular Archbishop of Penafiel and Apostolic Nuncio Emeritus. Item condition rating: **** good. The lot is in good condition, with normal wear and defects commensurate with its age and use over time. Minor color loss.