Romanian icon with folk painting decorations

Romanian icon was painted on wood board by a self taught artist, probably an Orthodox monk in a monastery. The painting is a folk style painting with... more

by Anonymous

Buy the Original Painting

Price

$25,000

Dimensions

27.000 x 39.000 cm.

Title

Romanian icon with folk painting decorations

Artist

Anonymous

Medium

Painting - Oil On Wood Board

Description

Romanian icon was painted on wood board by a self taught artist, probably an Orthodox monk in a monastery. The painting is a folk style painting with naive features denoting a self taught artist. As the most population in Romania in 18th. century was illiterate, most likely the painting was done by a Greek Orthodox monk in a monastery. The Slavonic alphabet was used in Romania until mid 19th. century when the Latin alphabet was adopted. The inscriptions on this painting are with Slavonic characters, but in Romanian language. Older icons prior 18th. century are in Slavonic language that is a derivative of Russian language. The wood board of this icon is very thick (6 cm. or 1.5") similar to Russian icons of 18th. century. The paint was applied on a thick gesso that in some small area was peeling off, or replaced and re-painted above at a later time period. As all paintings of this period, the icon is not signed and on the back there is no inscription citing the name of the donor or the painter. The surface is slightly convex and due to the thickness, there was no need to place inserted back extenders. On the upper panel it is featured Hodighitria flanked by St. Nicholas on left and Spiritu Sancti in shape of winged head of an old man, on right side. On lower panel, archangels Michael and Gabriel are depicted wearing simple, ordinary clothing. Inscription above in Romanian: A. Mihai and on right, Gabriel. Very rare icon!.
Size: 15.3" x 10.6" (39 X 27 cm.).

Uploaded

March 22nd, 2010