GREEK TRIPTYCH ICON DEPICTING THE DEESIS AND SAINTS
Greece, 17th century
Tempera on gold ground panel
Closed 42 x 28 cm - Open 42 x 53 cm
LINK WITH COMPLETE DETAILS (click HERE)
Here we examine a pleasant and rather rare triptych icon, with a tabernacle structure with two foldable side panels, depicting 'the Deesis', which in Greek means prayer; it is a representation that includes Christ blessing in the center, the Madonna on the left and Saint John the Baptist on the right, both in prayer with the function of interceding for the sins of the faithful, in our case protected by two angels behind them.
Jesus is depicted as "High Priest", dressed as a bishop with the crown, the omophorion (the stole around his neck) and the epigonation (a diamond of embroidered fabric worn at knee height).
He blesses with his right hand, the fingers form the Greek letters IC XC, "Jesus Christ" in Greek, while in his left hand he holds the Gospel, showing the passage: "Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you" (Matthew 25:34)
The left wing of the triptych portrays on the other: Saint Nicholas, Saints Constantine and Helena, and below Saint George slaying the dragon.
The right wing instead: Saint Alexander, Saints Peter and Paul and below Saint Demetrius, while slaying a Moor.
Both George and Saint Demetrius are the most revered warrior saints in Eastern Orthodoxy; the two are often depicted together, both armored and cloaked on the back of a horse, red for Saint Demetrius and white for Saint George; another element that allows to distinguish them is their goal: Saint George slays the dragon, symbol of the defeat of evil, while Demetrius with a long spear threatens the Bulgarian king Kaloyan.
These types of tripartite icons are very rare and appreciated at a collector's level, in our case we are also faced with a work of undoubted executive quality and value, especially if we analyze the descriptive details rendered with the precision that is usually reserved for miniatures. Great meticulousness has been specifically dedicated to the rendering of the protagonists and their faces.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
The painting is sold accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and an illustrative iconographic card.
We handle and organize the transport of purchased works, both for Italy and abroad, through professional and insured carriers.
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In case of purchase of the work by non-Italian customers, it will be necessary to obtain an export permit which requires approximately 10/20 days, our gallery will take care of the entire phase until it is obtained. All costs of this procedure are included.
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