Parthian Style Marble Female Dignitary

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. 1 kg, 32 x 26.5 cm

; good condition, losses to the borders, areas of retouching.

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.

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.

Rectangular board with mounting bar to reverse; central recess with painted scene of Tobias and angel Raphael in a landscape, city wall to rear; the Archangel dressed in a blue long sleeved tunica talaris, and wrapped in a red chlamys, the wings, shoes and the embroidery of the tunic’s cuffs in gold, his left hand raised with his finger pointing up to the sky; Tobias dressed in a short light green chiton with gold embroidery, red trousers and gold boots. 1.7 kg, 36 x 29 cm



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

The icon represents the well known biblical episode of Tobias (Book of Tobit), who, assisted by the Archangel Raphael, went to Ecbatana to meet his cousin Sarah. Raphael told the boy Tobias to catch a fish and to remove its organs, which when burnt were able to drive out the Demon Asmodeus.

Carved with centre-parted wavy hair, large lentoid eyes, neat beard and moustache; irregular to rear. 8.7 kg, 27 cm



Found in a garden in North Yorkshire, UK.