AN ICON « GUARDIAN ANGEL WITH SELECTED SAINTS» - COSMAS AND DAMIAN, CONON AND BONIFACE AND A SAINT PAINTED IN THE MARGIN
Lotto 115
650700
Mstera, late XIX - early XX cc
Wood, gesso, gold leaf, tempera
25 X 20 cm
The choice of saints depicted on the icon is very interesting and at the same
time understandable. Cosmas and Damian were revered by the people as
healers, guardians of livestock, chickens and blacksmithing. Saint Conon
- gardener is the patron saint of all garden crops. It was believed that the
prayer for the glory of St. Conon provided a plenteous yield. Saint Boniface
was prayed for healing from drunkenness. In short, besides the Angelic
amulet, a simple peasant in his everyday life needed the prayerful help of the
most important saints - healers, patrons of agriculture and cattle breeding.
Condition: without restoration, under a layer of darkened drying oil. A fine
example of stylistic art of Moscow Old Believers’ icon painting.