Details

LOT 1988

Reproduction Silver-Gilt Byzantine Icon of Christ's Baptism

20TH CENTURY A.D.

10 1/4 x 7 7/8 in. (110 grams, 26 x 20 cm).

Representing the Epiphany (the Manifestation) of Jesus Christ; Jesus standing in the river, wearing a small loincloth made from a knotted tallit, recognisable by its striped edge; the rocky landscape of the Jordan valley temporarily breaking open and river becoming a vast whirlpool; from the left bank John reaching towards Jesus and blessing his cousin; four angels look on holding towels; above, the dove of the Holy Spirit with three rays of light; above the inscription Η ΒΑΠΤHCΙC (the Baptism). [No Reserve]

Provenance

Ex David Miller, Hemel Hempstead, London, UK.
From the private collection of a West London, UK, gentleman, formed since the early 2000s.

Literature

Cf. Matthieson, S., Morrison, G., Heavenly Beings, Icons of the Christian Orthodox World, Auckland, 2022, p.240, for a similar icon.

Footnotes

The Gospel of Mark describes the voice of God announcing: ‘Thou art my beloved Son, with thee I am well pleased’ (Mark 1: 11). This is the theoretical moment after which Jesus becomes known as Christ and John becomes known as the Baptist.