123 - Christ Pantocrator with a Silver Riza - Moscow, 1882

Christ Pantocrator with a Silver Riza - Moscow, 1882 Egg tempera on panel Height x width: 26.5 x 21.5 cm This work serves as a splendid and refined example of late 19th-century Russian Orthodox sacred painting, centered on the monumental iconography of Christ Pantocrator. The Savior is depicted in a half-length portrait, presented with a rigorous and magnetic frontality that immediately captures the viewer’s gaze. With His right hand raised to His chest, Jesus performs the traditional gesture of blessing according to Eastern liturgical custom, while His left hand holds an open Book of the Gospels, held out in front of Him; its pages bear the sacred text inscribed in Church Slavonic Cyrillic characters. His face, defined by symmetrical and exceptionally noble features, is rendered with a painterly technique of remarkable softness and naturalistic sensitivity—a subtle, academic blending (sfumato) that enhances the expressive intensity of His brown eyes and the solemnity of His gaze. The painted surface is enclosed and protected by a sumptuous riza (metal cover). Surrounding Christ’s face is an imposing halo, pierced with geometric patterns and stylized plant motifs—reminiscent of the Neo-Russian style—complemented by an engraved sunburst pattern in the background that amplifies the radiance of this divine epiphany. The metallic garment conveys the volume and dense folds of fabric with great plasticity, achieved through an exquisitely detailed *repoussé* (embossed) texture. The composition is framed by an elaborate border featuring continuous geometric motifs, interlaced patterns inspired by Byzantine architecture, and lobed arches in the upper corners; at the base, an embossed rectangular cartouche displays the traditional title in Cyrillic characters.The riza is fully hallmarked with 84 zolotniks (the 875/1000 silver mark used in Moscow in 1882), along with the mark of the assayer Ivan Yefimovich Konstantinov and that of an unidentified silversmith. His Excellency the Most Reverend 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 defects on the riza.