GRIGORI RASPUTIN (1869–1916), AUTOGRAPH ICON OF ‘SAINT PIMEN THE GREAT’ WITH AN AUTOGRAPH INSCRIPTION BY GRIGORI RASPUTIN Central Russia, early 20th century.

Wood, gold leaf, oil. 6 × 4 cm. In good condition, with a chip to the upper edge of the icon. On the reverse, an autograph inscription in ink by Grigori Rasputin, in Cyrillic: ‘Vozlyubil bolez' i raduet i veselit svoikh i blagoslovlyaet na zhizn' blagopoleznuyu. Grigoriy’ [‘He embraced suffering and brings joy and gladness to his loved ones, blessing them with a virtuous life. Grigori’]. Saint Pimen the Great (c. 340–450), an Egyptian ascetic, devoted his life to strict fasting and prayer, attaining a high degree of spiritual perfection. He became renowned as a wise spiritual mentor to monks. Provenance: Archive of Anna Vyrubova. Anna Alexandrovna Vyrubova (née Taneyeva; 1884–1964), who took the monastic name Maria in 1923, was a close friend and confidante of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna and a memoirist. Her life was the subject of numerous rumours and much speculation. Vyrubova was well acquainted with Grigori Rasputin, whom, according to her memoirs, she met on numerous occasions at her country house in Tsarskoye Selo. Rasputin played a significant role in her life. She believed that it was he who had saved her life following a railway accident in 1915.