Painted Wooden Icon with Saints Boris and Gleb

RUSSIA, 16TH-17TH CENTURY A.D.

12 5/8 x 10 3/8 in. (1 kg, 32 x 26.5 cm).

Painted on a wooden board with gessoed surface, tempera on wood panel with kovcheg (recessed central panel on the obverse) executed on a pale yellow ground; Boris and Gleb depicted on horseback wearing Russian 16th century Boyar costume, both with nimbus, each with a lance and pennant; on the right upper corner, God is represented as a half figure making a blessing gesture, inscription in Greek letters 'ΙϹ ΧϹ' (ΙΗϹΟΥϹ ΧΡΙϹΤΟϹ = Jesus Christ); rectangular wooden board with mounting slots to reverse.

Provenance

Acquired on the UK art market.
Private collection, London, UK.

Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12927-246338.

Literature

Cf. Iljina, T.W., Arcydzieła Malarstwa Rosyjskiego w Muzeach ZSRR (Masterpieces of Russian Painting in the Museums of the USSR, in Polish), Leningrad, 1989, fig.10, for similar icon.

Footnotes

Boris and Gleb, Princes of old Rus Nation, were the sons of Vladimir of Kiev, the first Christian Prince of Rus; according the history they were killed in 1015 and 1019 in the civil struggles for the succession to the Kiev’s throne, and sanctified for their faith. Standards with their image were worn by the medieval Russian army.

CONDITION

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LOT 0356