Ancient Russian Deesis icon extended 19th century 35x30 cm
Ancient Russian Deesis icon extended 19th century 35x30 cm.The Deesis or Deisis is a Christian iconographic theme of the Byzantine sphere. It means ''supplication'' or ''intercession''.
In the orthodox icon, we see Jesus blessing between the Virgin Mary and Saint John the Baptist, but in some representations the latter is replaced by Saint Nicholas or other saints. According to tradition, Mary is represented on the right hand side of Christ and the Apostle on the left.The term deesis was also use...
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Ancient Russian Deesis icon extended 19th century 35x30 cm.The Deesis or Deisis is a Christian iconographic theme of the Byzantine sphere. It means ''supplication'' or ''intercession''.
In the orthodox icon, we see Jesus blessing between the Virgin Mary and Saint John the Baptist, but in some representations the latter is replaced by Saint Nicholas or other saints. According to tradition, Mary is represented on the right hand side of Christ and the Apostle on the left.The term deesis was also used to describe images of the Virgin Mary in prayer or of a donor in the act of supplication.Originally the term was used for images which expressed the privileged role of the Virgin and the Baptist as the first eyewitnesses of Christ.After the 9th century the composition began to incorporate image models associated with the Imperial Court: Jesus was represented as an emperor.With this new emphasis on intercession, the Deesis became an important element in the Last Judgment scenes, where the Virgin and Saint John intercede for mankind.The Deesis icon was painted in Moscow in 1800 and measures 35.5x30.4cm.It is shipped together with a box set and an expert report.
