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A VERY FINE RUSSIAN ICON, YAROSLAVL, CIRCA 1690. Known in Western Christianity as John the Baptist, he is commonly called John the Forerunner in Eastern Orthodoxy. In the New Testament he was the forerunner of Christ's earthly ministry, and in the apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus, he was also the precursor of Christ's descent into Hades. In this example, John is seen as an "Angel of the Wilderness," depicted with wings and wearing a hair shirt. The wings derive from the double meaning of the Greek word used to describe him in Mark 1:2, "As it is written in Isaiah, the prophet, behold I send thy angelos (meaning both messenger and angel) before thy face, who shall prepare the way before thee." John holds a staff in his right hand and in his left hand he holds a salver containing his head and a scroll which begins, "At that time Herod, the tetrarch, heard of the fame of Jesus…" (Matthew 14:1). He is surrounded with related scenes. Clockwise from the lower left corner as inscribed on the border is the ZACHATIE SVYATAGO IOANN PREDTECHA: "The Conception Holy John the Forerunner." Next is the "Birth of John," followed by "An Angel Taking the Child John into the Wilderness," there to remain until he comes of age. Continuing we see "The Assembly of Holy John the Forerunner" (the crowds assemble at the Jordan for baptism), "The Beheading of John the Forerunner" and the "Finding of the Honorable Head of John the Forerunner," in this case the third of three such discoveries. In an excellent state of preservation. 12.5 inches x 11 inches (32 x 28cm). Lot accompanied by exhibition catalog in which the offered lot is illustrated.
Important Notice: The absence of condition information in the description does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition, a condition report is available by request.
Estimate:
$3,000 - 5,000
€ 2,790 - 4,650
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Price Realized: $4,750.00
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Literature
Pope John Paul II Cultural Center Windows into Heaven, Russian Icons, 1550-1917, Washington D.C. 2003, exhibition catalog, where illustrated.
Exhibited
Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S.A. Ave Maria Foundation "Heaven on Earth, The Holy Art of Imperial Russia 1650-1917" February 7, 2001-March 21, 2001 Topeka, Kansas, U.S.A. Heartland Orthodox Christian Museum "Spiritual Treasures of Czarist Russia" September 1, 2001-October 1, 2001.
