139 - Travel triptych depicting the Deesis - 19th century

Travel triptych depicting the Deesis - 19th century Bronze casting and polychrome enamels Height x width: 18 x 46 cm The central panel features the Pantocrator, while the side panels depict the Virgin Mary and Saint John the Baptist in a posture of intercession, in accordance with the traditional composition. In this triptych, however, John the Baptist is portrayed in the garments of the “Angel of the Desert,” an Eastern iconographic tradition that depicts him with wings, symbolizing his ascetic life and his role as a divine messenger. The Child he holds in his hands is not an earthly infant, but a foreshadowing of Christ the Lamb, presented to the world by the Forerunner as a living sacrifice for the salvation of humanity. The outer panel features a simple circular medallion at the center of which stands the image of the Cross of Golgotha. The symbol of the Passion stands out against a dramatic background, where the turreted walls of Jerusalem and the intricate forms of the buildings evoke the Holy City according to the visionary aesthetics of the Russian tradition. In the corners between the central clipeus and the outer edge appear the symbols of the Evangelists. These artifacts, generally small in size, were intended for private devotion. Their portability made them easy to carry and, if necessary, to conceal, thus meeting the religious needs of a community that, following the schism known as the Raskol, experienced periods of persecution by the official Russian Orthodox Church. 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.