"The Twelve Great Feasts."

High Resolution Images: fragments.

19th Century. Around 1850. Vladimir Icon-painting village of Palekh. Palekh school.

Size: 36 x 31 cm.

Technique & Material: Board, gesso, tempera, egg tempera, drying oil.

Description:  This icon is from the highest Palekh school. In the 19th century, the Palekh school was the leading one in Russia and continued the traditional ancient Russian tradition. These were icon-painting family dynasties. Palekh icon painters were distinguished not only by their virtuoso mastery of the technique of ancient Russian icon painting, including the most complex techniques and methods, but they also revived the sacralization of the icon painter with the obligatory observance of fasting, confession, and communion before painting an icon. This was the period of the revival of Russian icon painting under Tsar Nikolay Aleksandrovich Romanov. Palekh then occupied a leading position in Russian icon painting, being a supplier to the imperial court. The high Palekh icon was a work of art and its cost was also high and accessible only to the highest strata of the elite. First of all, to the imperial strata of Russian society of the Emperor and his court, as well as to the upper strata of society: the nobility and wealthy merchants.

This icon of the Feasts is an example of the high classical Palekh school with a miniature exquisite painting, an expanded detailed plot and rich coloristic composition. This icon has standards of the Palkeh school:

1) miniature multi-scene painting
2) general soft tone of painting
3) diversity of elements of the composition and their picturesqueness
4) patterned chamber painting
5) different times of rainbow radiance
6) inscription of mountains with pointed flaps
7) Mother of God with natural foliage.

Twelve scenes of the main events of the gospel are depicted on this icon. In the center of the icon we can see the descent of Jesus Christ into Hell and his Resurrection.
The icon came to us in a difficult state of preservation. The painting was slightly damaged, but was covered with a very thick hard and dark layer of drying oil, soot and carbon black. Therefore, cleaning the icon took a lot of time and required considerable skill. Therefore, the opening and cleaning of the icon was carried out by the highest category refiner - Ivan Dymov.

The restoration and conservation work was carried out according to museum rules in the school of the Russian museum, designed to clear the original painting from a lot of dirt and a hard dark layer of drying oil, in order to open the original painting to the viewer. Fortunately, the result exceeded all expectations! The original painting was preserved almost completely, with the exception of a small burn from a candle. Therefore, we can talk about the almost perfect preservation of the painting. The icon was strengthened and covered with drying oil of the same composition as the original. The colors did not fade at all and opened with pristine richness and brightness.

Provenance: Acquired in 2024 from a private collection in Kyiv.

The icon has the highest antique religious significance.

Please ask for more detailed information.

Price: 5000 EUR.-

"Двунадесятые праздники" 

XIX век. Около 1850 г. Владимирское иконописное село Палех. Палехская школа.
Размер: 36 x 31 cm.

Доска, левкас, темпера, яичная темпера, олифа.

High Resolution Images: fragments.
Цена: 5000 EUR.-