Early 18th-Century Russian Icon, Volga Masters (Circle), The Crucifixion

Early 18th-Century Russian Icon, Volga Masters (Circle), The CrucifixionThis exquisite and exceedingly rare early 18th century Russian Staurotek icon depicts The Crucifixion of Christ with an assemblage of saints, together with a 19th century copper cast eight pointed cross, inserted in the central recess. Due to the exceptional nature of this piece, we consulted Ilya Kushnirskiy, the Director of the Russian Icon Collection, who in turn contacted Anastasia V. Likhenko, Curator at the State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow. Ms

The portraits are a little tired but still convey the character of this charming husband and wife

The painting is signed in the lower right and housed within a later frame

while the reeds are just quickly sketched in

a small bell-shaped dress in light blue with white hoops

It seems he worked exclusively for the aristocracy

440 achieved for an oil painting in 2008

The painting is titled ‘Arbetarfik’

He looks towards us with a quizzical expression and a slight smirk - perhaps concealing a few tales from the ocean

Monogrammed in the lower right and held within a later frame

we see several horses cooling off under a linden tree

Novelist William Makepeace Thackeray would comment that if he were the Duke of Devonshire

represents the spear used to pierce Christ’s body