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19th Century Russian Orthodox Icon - Saints Cyril and Methodius

Currency:USD Category:Antiques Start Price:50.00 USD Estimated At:200.00 - 800.00 USD
19th Century Russian Orthodox Icon - Saints Cyril and Methodius
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[?]Live Online Auction Starts In 2025 Jul 23 @ 14:00 (UTC-04:00 : AST/EDT)
A hand-painted Russian icon on wood depicting Saints Cyril and Methodius, revered Byzantine brothers and early Christian missionaries known as the "Apostles to the Slavs." The two figures are presented side by side, rendered in traditional Orthodox style with gilded halos, stylized robes, and inscriptions in Church Slavonic identifying each saint. Left: St. Cyril, shown with a scroll inscribed with Old Church Slavonic script, referencing his work in developing the Glagolitic and Cyrillic alphabets. Right: St. Methodius, robed in bishop's vestments and holding a book, symbolizing his role in liturgy and scripture translation. Executed in egg tempera on a single panel of hardwood with raised borders and back battens. The verso shows signs of age and use, with reinforced hanging hardware and some loss to the original crossbar supports. This icon is stylistically consistent with 19th-century Russian provincial workshops, which continued the Byzantine tradition well into the Imperial period. The surface shows areas of craquelure, flaking, and rubbing -particularly to the central vertical seam - adding to its historical character. Saints Cyril (826-869) and Methodius (815-885) were instrumental in the cultural and religious development of Eastern Europe. They devised the earliest Slavic alphabet and translated liturgical texts, laying the foundation for Orthodox Christianity in Slavic lands.

Issued: 19th century
Dimensions: 12"L x 16"H

Condition: Age related wear.