Lot number 2133 - Auction 142
SEHR SELTENE UND GROSSE IKONE MIT DER OFFENBARUNG DES JOHANNES

A VERY RARE AND LARGE ICON SHOWING THE VISION OF THE HOLY APOSTLE JOHN THE THEOLOGIAN Russian, 17th century Tempera on wood panel with kovcheg. The haloes and wings made of gold. The background stripped to gesso, partially restored. 40.8 x 33.1 cm. The central image of the icon depicts four scenes, three of which represent different episodes from the Revelation of John. In the top left, Christ is shown in a white robe, the attire of the high priest, adorned with a golden hem at the bottom and on the sleeves. Characteristic of this iconography is His white hair, corresponding to the description in Revelation (Rev. 1:14). In His left hand, He holds a sphere, surrounded by trumpeting angels, while His right hand rests on the kneeling John the Theologian. A sword and a trumpet emerge from Christ's mouth, in line with the description in Revelation (Rev. 1:10-20). To the right, a flying angel rushes toward John (Rev. 10:1-10). Below is another scene: John the Theologian sits with Prochor in front of a cave, listening to the heavenly sound of the trumpet while Prochor writes under his dictation. This follows a traditional iconographic scheme, commonly found in illustrated Gospels and icons of John the Theologian. The bottom scene represents the message to the seven churches (Rev. 2-3): Against a complex architectural background with many walls and towers, John receives a blessing from an angel and a scroll containing the message. The seven angels, holding unfurled scrolls, stand before the gates of the respective churches.