"St. Nicholas the Miracle-worker of Mozhaisk"

The second half of the 19th century. Moscow.
Size: 31,5 x 26,0 cm.
Technique & Material: Board with the ark, ground of the image is gesso, tempera, drying oil.

Description: This icon is representing the capital high level art. Author of the icon - painter from the circle of the so-called Moscow Mstera. (Guryanova, Dikareva, Chirikov, Shitova etc.)
History:
Mstera iconography: Icon-painting originated in the village Mstera of Vladimir province in the 17th century. By the middle of the 18th century it was spread and evolved so much that it became the main occupation of its male population. Gradually, from small family-owned enterprises it grew up to quite large workshops with hired painters to thirty persons. The most prominent were the workshops of S.A. Suslov, I.P. Dogadina and V.A. Shitova.
Iconic style of Mstera iconography from 18-19 centuries was defining from the query of the Old Believers, who sought to preserve the ancient Russian icon painting tradition: exemplary were considered iconography of ancient Novgorod, Moscow 16th century and the Russian North - the so-called "northern paintings." For icons in this direction is characterized by discreet dark color, elegant planar ornamental compositions, covering the icon board by the carpet, and moderate use of gold to bring out the details.
By the early 19th century. icons of Epiphany settlement masters were selling throughout Russia, as well as in other Orthodox countries - Romania, Bulgaria and Serbia.
Mstera painters in Moscow and in other cities.
In the wake of the general interest to the national cultural heritage, which is typical for the Russian society of the second half of the 19th century, the demand for Mstera icons increased. Icon painters of Mstera were invited to Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novgorod for the restoration of important ancient icons and paintings of the large temples. The main role in it belongs to the famous people from Mstera - Chirikov brothers, M.I. Dikareva and V.A. Guryanova. They opened in Moscow their own icon-painting workshops and invited to work in the ancient capital the most talented of their countrymen. In these workshops were created valuable icons, which were painted in the style of old Russian painting. Orders were from the imperial court and the richest families of the Old Believers.Thus, soon "brand"- Mstera has come to mean standard ancient canon, together with the highest quality iconography.

The iconography of the plot:
St. Nicholas the Miracle-worker of Mozhaisk is a particular iconography of the saint. In the icons of this type the saint is not submitted with the holy book and plateau, but with the sword and temple in the divorced hands. At the top on the sides there is Mother of God and Jesus Christ with the Gospel and the omofor.
The prototype of this image is considered to be a statue of St. Nicholas, installed on the city gates or in the city's cathedral Mozhaisk. Another feature of the icons of this iconography is the arch, often with the keeled form, above the figure of the saint.
The miracle, that was done by St. Nicholas and served as rescue the city from the enemy rati, marked the beginning of the glorification and distribution of this image.
There is a legend about the help of the Saint Miracle-worker to the townsmen Mozhaisk precipitated in the XIV century by the Mongol-Tatars. In answer to a prayer to him , miraculous vision appeared in one of the churches of the city: St. Nicholas appeared in the sky and he was standing on the cathedral in formidable form. With one hand he raised his glittering sword, ready to fall on the heads of enemies, in the other hand he kept like hail Mojaisk a sign of it's care (save). The Sword and the temple, as symbols of "military overcoming" and assistance in military affairs, at the same time reminded about the protection of the Orthodox faith and the teachings of Christ. Frightened by the menacing sign, the enemy fled in terror from the walls of Mozhaisk, and residents in grateful remembrance of the powerful intercession, carved wooden image of the sacred of their patron saint that they saw in the sky. Known as "St. Nicholas Mozhaisky" this image has become one of the most popular and beloved in Russia.

The highest quality of the painting in the traditional strict and laconic old Russian style. Modest but extremely delicately worked out the edge of the saint garments - cold enamel on gold, and his robes is decorated with crosses of crushed melted gold. Nimbus (halo) is also with gold. Background and fields are painted with quiet deep ocher - traditional style for Moscow icons of such type.

Please ask for more information about the icon and it's provenance.

High Resolution Images: fragments.
Price: EUR 3300.-

Cвятой Николай «Можайский» Чудотворец.
Вторая половина 19 века. Москва.
Размер: 31,5 x 26,0 cm.

Доска с ковчегом, грунт левкас, темпера , олифа.
Высокое качество: фрагменты.
Цена: EUR 3300.-