"Selected Roman saints: St. martyr Agrippina and St. warrior Anastasy"
18th century.
Size: 35,8 x 27,3 x 1,7cm
Technique & Material: board worked with scraper, gesso, mixed technique, crushed gold, drying oil
Description:St. Martyr Anastasy was living in the 3rd century in the city of Akvilia(?) in Northern Italy. For his missionary activity he was arrested in town Salone (Dalmacia) and brought to a judge. Without fear and hesitation he confessed Christ as true God and the creator of all beings. The trial sentenced him to death. His body was thrown to sea, but a righteous Christian matron Ascalopia found the body and buried with honors in their home church. The relics of saint martyr were marked with multiple miracles.
St. Martyr Agrippina was also living in 3rd century in Italy. She was born in Rome, and decided to live unmarried; she fully devoted her life to God. During the persecutions of Christians by Emperor Valerian (253-259) she was arrested and taken to a trial, where Agrippina bravely confessed her faith in Christ, for what she got sentenced to tortures. Then, she was put into chains, but Angel freed her from irons. However, soon she died from endured sufferings.
Several Christians, - Vassa, Paula and Agathonika (?) secretly took the body of the martyr and brought it to Sicily. Afterwards, numerous healings were done at her tomb. Around 11th century, her relics were taken to Constantinople.
The icon was painted in a special, so-called ‘fryaz’ style of icon-painting, where traditional methods were enriched by techniques of Western-European secular painting, i.e. usage of oil paints, shades, more naturalism in depiction of people and nature; the most prominent master of this school was Simeon Ushakov (17th century).
The icon is characterized by first-class painting, refinement and rich decor. The saints are placed under an arch-shaped vault, which is ornamented by stylized golden vignettes in baroque style that creates the atmosphere of secretiveness and ‘inner’ beauty.
Ideal state of preservation. The icon is under original drying oil.
High Resolution Images: fragments.
Price: EUR 2 200.-