Antique Russian icon "Saint Catherine of Alexandria '' hand painted 25x20
Antique Russian icon "Saint Catherine of Alexandria" hand painted 25x20 cm.Original Russian icon (Moscow) depicting Saint Catherine of Alexandria on a wooden tablet treated with levkas and hand painted with egg tempera. The story of Saint Catherine is made up of traditions and legends linked to the different countries of the Christian world in which she was venerated, which tell the vicissitudes that occurred in her short life (she lived only 18 years). Her birth should date back to 287, while h...
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Antique Russian icon "Saint Catherine of Alexandria" hand painted 25x20 cm.Original Russian icon (Moscow) depicting Saint Catherine of Alexandria on a wooden tablet treated with levkas and hand painted with egg tempera. The story of Saint Catherine is made up of traditions and legends linked to the different countries of the Christian world in which she was venerated, which tell the vicissitudes that occurred in her short life (she lived only 18 years). Her birth should date back to 287, while her death, following a bloody martyrdom, would date back to November 25, 305 in Alexandria in Egypt, but we do not know any reliable historical data about this saint. Catherine, a very beautiful woman, learned in all the arts and sciences, was the daughter of a king, Cost. She was converted by a hermit to Christianity and in a vision she received from Christ the ring of mystical marriage with him. He therefore refused any other suitor. At 18 she tried to convert Emperor Maxentius, who wanted to seduce her, with philosophical arguments. Unable to argue anything, the emperor had fifteen (or fifty) philosophers come. But Catherine convinced everyone of the truth of Christianity. Maxentius then killed the philosophers and threw her in prison condemning her to be martyred with four spiked wheels. But the saint was saved thanks to the intervention of an angel who broke the instrument of torture. The emperor then had her beheaded. The angels carried his body to Mount Sinai.Its typical attributes are the spiked wheel, the sword, the crown in reference to his royal blood, the palm of martyrdom, the ring and the book, emblem of wisdom. As the patroness of scholars and students she is depicted surrounded by symbols of culture, open books, mathematical instruments, earth globes. His mystical marriage with Christ is frequently depicted.This Russian icon is a unique piece dating back to the 18th-19th century and has a real size of 26x20cm. On the back it is equipped with a hook for hanging and is accompanied by an appraisal drawn up by an expert.Delivered in an elegant blue satin case.
