Inseparable from the liturgical tradition, religious
art is seen by Orthodox Christians as a form of
pictorial confession of faith and a channel of
religious experience. Because the icons provide
a direct personal contact with the holy persons
represented on them, these images should be
objects of veneration, in either a public or private
setting, and were even believed to have the
ability to heal.
The oil painting of this icon is extremely realistic.
However, only the head and hands of Christ have
been painted, the rest of this extraordinary work
is encased in a brass oklad. A repoussee
technique in high relief has been utilized to
produce the folds and curves of his drapery and
the bulk of the open book he holds, probably the
Bible. The metal itself has also been engraved to
depict the floral pattern of his outer robe, the
sun burst luminescence that radiates from
around his head, and the Cyrillic text of the open
pages. The borders of the oklad have also been
elaborated by an engraved abstract motif,
including a line of text inscribed at the bottom
center. To represent Christ’s halo, an additional
engraved oklad with pointed, crystalline-tiered
edges has been attached to the icon with three
brass tacks. The metal not only imitates the
elegance of gold, but also contrasts and
emphasizes the softness of the painted flesh.
Here, Christ raises his right hand in a sign of
benediction while showing us the testament of
his own divinity and humanity. Like many icon
paintings, this work attempts to combine the
familiar and the divine into one. He is mortal,
like us; yet holy, worthy of our adoration and
veneration.
- (PF.5686)
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