ICON ‘SAINT NICHOLAS’ Kholuy, Russia, 1830-40s

wood, levkas, silver leaf, coloured varnish, tempera 43 x 33.5 cm Condition: without modern interventions, chips and losses along the edges and in the margins, losses of coloured varnish The village of Kholuy was founded in 1546 and has long been famous for its talented icon painters, while masters of lacquer miniature painting have brought world fame to the village Saint Nicholas, Archbishop of Myre (4th century), is one of the most venerated Christian saints. Russian representations of Saint Nicholas have been known since the 11th century. Traditionally, St Nicholas is depicted at the waist, wearing a bishop's robe. The medallions on the sides of the saint contain a scene from the ‘Miracle of Nicaea’: Christ and the Mother of God presenting Nicholas the attributes of episcopal service. The most typical feature of icons from the Kholuy workshops in the mid-19th and early 20th centuries is the orange or reddish-brown colour of the fields. Kholuy icons attach great importance to ornamental decoration. The background, the nimbus and the linings of the plant ornaments on the vestments were made of silver leaf which, after being covered with a dark varnish, took on a golden hue. These parts of the icon were usually chiselled with motifs in the shape of circles, stars, scales, etc. This icon is also decorated with chased silver elements attached to the nimbus and the saint's right hand, and the medallions on the sides.