Lot number 1876 - Auction 147
MONUMENTALE IKONE MIT DEM HEILIGEN NIKOLAUS VON MOSCHAISK AUS EINER KIRCHEN-IKONOSTASE

A MONUMENTALE ICON SHOWING ST. NICHOLAS OF MOZHAYSK FROM A CHURCH ICONOSTASIS Russian, Moscow, circa 1900 Tempera on wood panel with kovcheg. His facial features, hair and beard rendered in detail, the halo defined by scrolls on the punched gold background. The borders painted with ornate strapwork and faux cloisonné enameling. Vertical cracks restored. 157.5 x 89 cm. This exceptional icon depicts Saint Nicholas of Mozhaysk, one of the most venerated figures in the Russian Orthodox Church. The portrayal of the saint holding a sword in his right hand and a city in his left emphasizes his role as a protector of Moscow and all of Russia. The origins of this iconography date back to the 14th and 15th centuries, while the version presented here exhibits stylistic influences from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The icon was likely created in a master workshop in Moscow and showcases the characteristic features of academically influenced icon painting of that period. Particularly striking are the elaborate chasing of the gold background, the meticulous detail in the depiction of the face, and the finely sculpted modeling of the hands and garments. Icons of this type were often intended for large church interiors or iconostasis complexes. The creation of this icon coincides with a period of significant upheaval in Russia. Tsar Nicholas II, who ascended the throne in 1894 and was crowned in Moscow in 1896, actively promoted the restoration and production of traditional icons, especially those associated with Russian identity and the protection of the empire. Saint Nicholas was regarded as a special patron saint of the Imperial family during the reign of Tsar Nicholas II. Many icons of this type were newly commissioned or restored in churches across the Russian Empire, often in connection with official events such as the coronation year or later with the canonization of Nicholas II and his family following their execution in 1918. Icons like this may have been part of donations to monasteries or churches closely associated with the Imperial family. Similar works can be found in the collections of the Tretyakov Gallery or in former Imperial chapels.