Antique Russian Acheiropoieta Icon 19th century, 36 x 30.5 cm
Antique Russian icon depicting the Face of Christ Acheiropoieta, known as the “Savior not painted by human hands”, one of the most significant images of the Eastern Christian tradition. According to tradition, the image of Christ’s face miraculously appeared on a linen cloth called the Mandylion, sent to King Abgar of Edessa. Christ, having wetted his face, dried it with the cloth, leaving his features impressed on it and creating the first Acheiropoieta image, not made by human hand. In 944 the...
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Antique Russian icon depicting the Face of Christ Acheiropoieta, known as the “Savior not painted by human hands”, one of the most significant images of the Eastern Christian tradition. According to tradition, the image of Christ’s face miraculously appeared on a linen cloth called the Mandylion, sent to King Abgar of Edessa. Christ, having wetted his face, dried it with the cloth, leaving his features impressed on it and creating the first Acheiropoieta image, not made by human hand. In 944 the icon was transferred from Edessa to Constantinople, where it remained until the sack of the city in 1204. Subsequently, according to tradition, it reached Rome and was venerated under the title Veronica, the “true icon”. The Acheiropoieta Face is regarded as the prototype for all representations of Christ’s face in iconographic art. In the Orthodox tradition it is celebrated on August 16th, while the first Sunday of Lent commemorates the Triumph of Orthodoxy, when icons are solemnly displayed in churches. It is considered a symbol of the divine presence and the true incarnation of Christ, this image was often used as a protective emblem on banners and standards. This Acheiropoieta icon is hand-painted in egg tempera on an antique wooden panel prepared with levkas, following the Russian iconographic tradition. It is accompanied by an expert appraisal and delivered in an elegant blue velvet case.
Origin: Volga region, Russia.
Technique: egg tempera.
Materials: wood with levkas preparation.
Dimensions: 36 x 30.5 cm.
Period: early 19th century.