01 Religious Icon, A Russian icon of the holy empress Saint Alexandra, with footnotes #35

Unknown iconographer

The Holy Empress Saint Alexandra

With gilded silver oklad, by Ovchinnikov, Moscow, c. 1883

20 1/2 x 10 1/2 in., 52 x 26.7 cm

Private collection

The Saint shown standing at full length, richly dressed in gem- and pearl-studded clothing and crown, and holding a cross, with Christ shown in the clouds above her

Saint Alexandra was the reputed wife of Emperor Diocletian, from 284 until his abdication in 305,  and secretly converted to Christianity. Jacobus de Voragine listing her name as “Alexandria” describes her as the wife of Dacian, the Roman Prefect who persecuted Saint Caprasius of Agen and Saint Maginus. While Saint George was being tortured, Alexandra went to the arena, bowed before him, and professed her faith openly. When she questioned whether she was worthy of paradise and martyrdom without being baptized, Saint George told her, “Do not fear, for your blood will baptize you.” She was denounced as a Christian and imprisoned on her husband's orders in Nicomedia, then sentenced to death.

Her husband was so outraged by her conversion that he is said to have uttered, “What! Even thou hast fallen under their spell!”. Alexandra quietly accepted her sentence and prayed as the guards walked her to the place of execution. She asked if she could rest for a moment. The guards allowed this. She rested by the place of Saint George's execution at Nicomedia's City Wall. More on St. Alexandra

Pavel Akimovich Ovchinnikov was the bondman of Prince Volkonsky. He showed talent for drawing while being a child. Being a teenager he was sent to Moscow for eight years as an apprentice in the workshop, manufacturing gold and silver items, which belonged to his brother A.A. Ovchinnikov. As a brilliant student, P. Ovchinnikov was manumitted. In 1850, he married. Taking 1000 rubles as his wife dowry he opened a workshop which later turned into one of the major jewellery factories in Moscow. More on Pavel Akimovich Ovchinnikov

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01 Religious Icon, A Russian icon of Christ Pantocrator, with footnotes #34

Unknown artist

Christ Pantocrator

Oil/tempera on panel, gilded silver, enamel

10 5/8 x 8 7/8 in., 27 x 23.5 cm

Private collection

In Christian iconography, Christ Pantocrator is a specific depiction of Christ. Pantocrator or Pantokrator, usually translated as "Almighty" or "all-powerful", is derived from one of many names of God in Judaism.

The Pantokrator, largely an Eastern Orthodox or Eastern Catholic theological conception, is less common under that name in Western (Roman) Catholicism and largely unknown to most Protestants. In the West, the equivalent image in art is known as Christ in Majesty, which developed a rather different iconography. Christ Pantocrator has come to suggest Christ as a mild but stern, all-powerful judge of humanity. More on Christ Pantocrator

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01 Religious Icon, A Russian icon of the Kazan Mother of God with gilded silver oklad, with footnotes #33

Unknown artist

Kazan Mother of God

Oil or tempera on panel, seed and artificial pearls, glass, silver

13 3/4 x 11 3/4 in., 34.8 x 29.7 cm

Private collection

Sold for 17,500 USD on April 2014

Our Lady of Kazan, also called Mother-of-God of Kazan, was a holy icon of the highest stature within the Russian Orthodox Church, representing the Virgin Mary as the protector and patroness of the city of Kazan, and a palladium of all of Russia and Rus', known as the Holy Protectress of Russia. As is the case for any holy entity under a Patriarchate in communion within the greater Eastern Orthodox Church, it is venerated by all Orthodox faithful.

According to legend, the icon was originally acquired from Constantinople, lost in 1438, and miraculously recovered in pristine state over 140 years later in 1579. Two major cathedrals, the Kazan Cathedral, Moscow, and the Kazan Cathedral, St. Petersburg, are consecrated to Our Lady of Kazan, and they display copies of the icon, as do numerous churches throughout the land. The original icon in Kazan was stolen, and probably destroyed, in 1904. More on Our Lady of Kazan

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01 Religious Icon, St. Luke presenting the Mother of God with the first icon, with footnotes #32

Unknown iconographer

St. Luke presenting the Mother of God with the first icon, circa 1800

Tempera on panel

15 1/2 x 13 3/4 in. (39.4 x 35 cm)

Private collection

The painted icon is covered with a metal cover, the borders with angels, set among floral garlands, raising up the image.

The Apostle Luke is mostly known as one of the four Evangelists. In fact, he told us more than the other three about our Lord’s childhood, as well as about His mother Mary.

It is a known fact that Saint Luke was also an artist. It is said, that he was the only person who painted a few images of the Theotokos while she was alive. This makes St Luke the first iconographer. However, some people believe that there is no proof that the icons in question have actually been painted by the Apostle.

The Bible doesn’t mention St Luke’s paintings. The only piece of information about Luke’s profession that the New Testament gives us is that the evangelist was a doctor. More on St. Luke presenting the Mother of God with the first icon

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01 Religious Icon, Russian Icon of Our Lady of Vladimir, with footnotes #31

Unknown artist

Vladimir Mother of God with beaded cover, circa 1800

Tempera, glass beads, pearls, cotton

18 1/4 x 15 1/4 in. (46.3 x 38.5 cm)

Private collection

The miraculous image given the title, Our Lady of Vladimir, is known as an Eleousa, the Greek word meaning, Mother of Tenderness. The Christ Child nestles tenderly close to his mother, he gazes at her and is so closely linked to her that his left arm embraces her fully. His right hand gently touches her left cheek. The original image is a large painting of the type known as the St. Luke icons. Mary looks out at the people. Yet, there is no doubt that she is intimately united to her Divine Son.

The origin of the ancient Marian icon, Our Lady of Vladimir, can be traced back to 1125. For many, The Lady Who Saves Russia is the most loved image of the Eastern Church.

The oldest known representation of Our Lady of Vladimir is presently located at the Tretjakow Gallery in Moscow. According to research, this excellent representation of an Eleousa was commissioned in Constantinople by a Russian, who then had the painting taken from city to city during the period of united Ukranian-Russian history. In 1169, Duke Andrej Bogoljubskij had the icon brought from Kiev to the new cathedral of Vladimir. Due to the honor and reverence of the people, who attributed gracious assistance to Our Lady's help throughout the Ukraine, a large cathedral was built for her in Vladimir. More on Our Lady of Vladimir

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01 Religious Icon, The Icon of Our Lady of the Sign, with footnotes #30

Unknown artist

The Icon of Our Lady of the Sign, circa 1900

Tempera and gilding on panel

17 3/8 x 15 1/2 in. (43.8 x 39.5 cm)

Private collection

The surface is richly carved, gilded, and painted in imitation of an enameled silver cover and pearl robes.

The Icon of Our Lady of the Sign is the term for a particular type of icon of the Theotokos (Virgin Mary), facing the viewer directly, depicted either full length or half, with her hands raised in the orans position, and with the image of the Child Jesus depicted within a round aureole upon her breast.

The icon depicts the Theotokos during the Annunciation at the moment of saying, "May it be done to me according to your word."(Luke 1:38). The image of the Christ child represents him at the moment of his conception in the womb of the Virgin. He is depicted not as a fetus, but rather vested in divine robes, and often holding a scroll, symbolic of his role as teacher. 

The term Virgin of the Sign or Our Lady of the Sign is a reference to the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14: "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel". Such an image is often placed in the apse of the sanctuary of an Orthodox church above the Holy Table (altar). More on The Icon of Our Lady of the Sign

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01 Religious Icon, A Russian icon of the Deesis, with footnotes #29

Unknown iconographer

A Russian icon of the Deesis

Egg tempera on wood

36 x 30cm

Private collection

In the Deesis, the Pantocrator is in the center, to his right is the Mother of God in an attitude of intercession: she represents the Church, brings back to Christ the prayer of humanity and covers it with her maternal protection. After the Virgin, the Baptist has the place of honor next to Christ, to the left of his throne; archetype of men, it makes the link between the Old and the New Testament and summarizes the long expectation of the people of Israel; he is the first to designate Jesus as the Messiah, he baptizes him in the waters of the Jordan. John is the first martyr of Christ, which gives him a special power of intercession. Christ in the center with the Mother on his right and John the Baptist on his left, both in an attitude of supplication, constitute the iconographic module called Deesis or prayer. More on this icon

The Greek word Deesis can be translated as entreaty or request. Characteristic of the iconography of a Deesis is that a group of saints turn to the centrally depicted Christ in intercession. The purpose of this intercession is to implore mercy for all mankind. The saints stand on the left and right side next to Christ’s throne, with their heads bowed in the direction of Christ and usually one hand directed towards him.

The Deesis is the most important and therefore the most central part of an iconostasis in Orthodox Church. In churches, the Deësis usually consists of several separate panels. The order of closeness to Christ is almost always the same: the Mother of God and John the Forerunner (the Baptist) stand right next to the throne, followed by the archangels Michael and Gabriel and the apostles Peter and Paul. For the positions further away from Christ, there is an increasing degree of room for differences. Here there is a place for the other apostles, evangelists, early church fathers, warrior saints, martyrs and other, possibly local, church saints.

In the centre of this icon, Christ Almighty is seated on a throne. He is holding a gospel book in his left hand. To the left and right of Christ are the Mother of God and John the Forerunner, their heads bowed in intercession. Behind the throne are the archangels Michael and Gabriel, followed by the two saints who are considered to be the founders of the early Christian church: the apostles Peter and Paul. More on The Greek word Deesis

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