Antique icon, Menologium of December, 21x17 in, 18th century, Russia

Antique icon, Menologium of December, 21x17 in, 18th century, Russia.

Exquisite Russian menological icon depicting saints and the main liturgical solemnities of December, executed in egg tempera on gold background on a levkas-prepared wooden panel.

The menologium is a liturgical book that collects prayers, hymns, and texts dedicated to saints commemorated day by day throughout the year. Icons with this designation represent saints and feasts mentioned in the liturgical calendar, following the liturgical order of the months.

The depicted work shows the cycle of saints and festivities of December, distributed in five equal-height registers. The figures of the saints are depicted standing, in natural and dynamic poses, often facing each other, emphasising a spiritual dialogue and lively choral aspect.

Among the main scenes are St. Barbara and St. John Damascene in the first register, the Nativity of Christ in the fourth register, the Flight into Egypt and the Slaughter of the Innocents in the fifth register. The compositions of the feasts are characterised by their iconographic completeness, developed horizontally like a continuous frieze, following a refined and narrative tradition that gives depth and rhythm to the representation.

The intensity of colours, expert use of gilding, and meticulous depiction of numerous pictorial details reveal the high technical and spiritual level of the late 18th-century Central Russian schools.

The icon is accompanied by an expert report prepared by a registered expert.

Origin: Central Russia

Technique: egg tempera on gold background

Materials: wood, levkas

Dimensions: 20.55x17.1 in

Period: late 18th century.