AN ICON « THE DESCENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ON THE APOSTLES” Russia, Vladimir region, the first half of the 19th century

Wood, gesso, silver leaf, tempera 78 x 47.5 cm Condition: fragmentary tinting This iconography became widespread in the 18th century. The subject is one of the most important Christian Holy Days – the Pentecost, the Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles. The Mother of God is seated on the throne, surrounded by the apostles. Tongues of reddish-violet flame are descending from a dove - a symbol of the Holy Spirit. The style of the icon, distinguished by its special expressiveness, is a synthesis of the Baroque art of the outgoing era and the traditional icon-painting art characteristic of the first half of the 19th century. The icon “Descent of the Holy Spirit”, in a vertically elongated oval, was made for the festive row of the iconostasis.