Antique Russian Icon, November Menologium 52x43 cm

Elegant Russian Menologium icon depicting saints and major liturgical celebrations of November. Created using egg tempera on a gold background on a levkas-prepared wooden board. The Menologium is the Orthodox liturgical book collecting prayers, hymns, and texts dedicated to saints commemorated throughout the year. This artwork illustrates the sequence of saints and liturgical celebrations in November, distributed across five equal-height registers. The saints, depicted in natural poses facing each other, convey a sense of movement and spiritual dialogue, departing from the typical frontal rigidity of many Menologium icons. Highlighted scenes include the depiction of Saint Cosmas and Damian in the first register, the Synaxis of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel in the second, and the Presentation of the Mother of God at the Temple on November 21 in the fourth. The festive compositions stand out for their breadth, rich iconography, and horizontal development resembling a frieze, embodying a harmonious balance and a spiritually compelling visual narrative. The intense gilding and fine painting strokes, typical of the Central Russian schools, give the work high aesthetic quality and profound religious expressiveness. The orthodox icon is accompanied by an expert appraisal from a registered appraiser. Origin: Central Russia. Technique: egg tempera on a gold background. Materials: wood, levkas. Dimensions: 52x43 cm. Era: late 18th century.