51 - Saint Nicholas of Myra (Nicholas the Wonderworker) - 20th century

Saint Nicholas of Myra (Nicholas the Wonderworker) - 20th century Egg tempera on panel Height x width: 44.5 x 36.5 cm Here, he is portrayed in his majestic guise as Archbishop and wonder-worker (thaumaturge), surrounded by an elaborate array of patron saints. The saint’s monumental, half-length figure emerges at the center of the composition, distinguished by a characteristically high forehead, a stern and penetrating gaze, and a finely detailed, grey-white beard. Saint Nicholas wears opulent episcopal liturgical vestments: a broad, emerald-green omophorion adorned with large, gold-outlined Greek crosses, layered over a phelonion of deep cinnabar red, richly decorated with golden, cross-shaped geometric patterns. In his left hand, he holds an open Book of the Gospels—its pages bearing text in Old Church Slavonic, rendered in a precise, calligraphic script—while his right hand is raised in the traditional Orthodox gesture of blessing. Flanking the large, red-and-gold circular halo, the miracle of the Council of Nicaea is depicted within two medallions: on the left, Christ the Savior presents the Book of the Gospels to Nicholas, while on the right, the Mother of God offers him the omophorion, thereby legitimizing his episcopal status. A remarkable feature of this piece—both in terms of its appeal to collectors and its devotional significance—lies in its wide side margins (kovčeg), which are exceptionally densely populated with figures: eight intercessory saints are meticulously rendered in full length, arranged symmetrically across four superimposed registers. In the upper-left corner, one can discern the pure, winged figure of the Guardian Angel (Angel Chranitel'), followed—further down the left side—by a female martyr, an ascetic monk, and another monastic figure. On the right side, a corresponding array of patron saints unfolds; among them, one can discern a sainted hierarch near the top, as well as several female martyrs, each draped in a traditional dark or purple maphorion. Stylistically, the work displays a level of execution characteristic of a high-quality devotional tradition—evident in the miniature-like refinement of the figures on the sides and the skillful use of highlights, which accentuate both the folds of the drapery and the expressiveness of the faces. The original gold-leaf background features traditional identifying inscriptions, calligraphically rendered in red on either side of Saint Nicholas’s head. H.E. Most Rev. Francisco-Javier Lozano Sebastián, Titular Archbishop of Penafiel and Apostolic Nuncio Emeritus. Item condition grading: **** good.The lot is in a good state of preservation with the normal wear and defects commensurate with its age and use over time. Minor paint losses; a loss in the lower left corner.