97 - Saint Nicholas of Myra (the Wonderworker) with the Miracle of Nicaea and Interceding Saints - 19th century

Saint Nicholas of Myra (the Wonderworker) with the Miracle of Nicaea and Interceding Saints - 19th century Egg tempera on panel Height x width: 35.5 x 30.5 cm This fine panel painting, executed in egg tempera, is a splendid example of Central Russian Orthodox sacred art, dating to the second half of the 19th century. The work is fully representative of the devotional art produced by highly skilled Russian artisan workshops, where unwavering fidelity to traditional, archaic canons is combined with extraordinary elegance of execution. The painting features the characteristic central recess of the panel, the so-called *kovcheg* (ark), designed to demarcate the sacred space of the main depiction from the outer frame. The warm color palette, centered on deep shades of green and earth tones, is illuminated by the brilliant red of the crosses and embellished by very fine gold highlights that bring the faces and garments to life. The rigorous iconographic composition clearly displays at the top, distributed across the upper frame, the large dedicatory inscription in Old Church Slavonic “СТЫИ НИКОЛА ЧУДОТВОРЕЦЪ” (Svjatyj Nikola Chudotvorec), which introduces the monumental and hieratic figure of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, depicted in a half-length frontal pose according to the classical conventions of Russian devotional art. The saint is depicted with his customary episcopal attributes: he wears the omophorion while making the solemn gesture of blessing with his right hand and holding the book of the Gospels with his left. His stern yet deeply compassionate gaze, high receding hairline, and short gray beard underscore his authority as a Father of the Church and protector of the faithful. Flanking him is the traditional Miracle of Nicaea, the so-called Deesis of Saint Nicholas: within small medallions, visible on the left is the Savior Jesus Christ offering the Gospels, and on the right is the Mother of God captured in the solemn act of pointing to the Saint as a seal and testimony to the legitimacy of his episcopal role. On the outer side frames (the edges of the panel), the standing figures of chosen intercessors are depicted, identified by their respective abbreviated archaic inscriptions: on the left margin, the winged figure of the Angel of Christ is recognizable (“АНГЕЛЪ ХР” — Angel Christov), while on the right margin the monastic silhouette of the Venerable Saint Luke is recognized (“ПРП. ЛУКА” — Prepodobnyj Luka), included to symbolically watch over the family and protect the icon’s owner. The entire pictorial surface is protected by a traditional linseed oil-based varnish (olifa), which has imparted a warm, amber-colored patina to the panel, enhancing the richness of the original mineral pigments. 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. Restored wooden frame.