4 June 2014 Russian Art Auctions
4 June 2014
* 624. AN ART NOUVEAU ICON OF CHRIST PANTOCRATOR WITH A SILVER OKLAD
EARLY 20TH CENTURY, OIL ON PANEL, OKLAD STAMPED WITH MAKER'S MARK OF NIKOLAI ZVEREV IN CYRILLIC, MOSCOW, 1908-1917, 84 STANDARD
22.5 by 18 cm.
15,000–20,000 GBP
The icon offered here at auction is a brilliant and distinctive early 20th century example of both the national religious school of Russian icon painting and of the jeweller’s art in the Art Nouveau style. The figure of the Saviour, painted in dark colours, is effectively set against a dignified, gleaming silver background, which lends the image a special expressiveness. The smooth surface of the background and halo are surrounded by a guilloché frame, the corner rosettes are accentuated with rosettes containing the important Christian motif of a cross, green cabochons are fixed to the centre of each rosette. The artefact possesses inner harmony and impeccable form.
The oklad was made at the Moscow establishment of Nikolai Zverev (1898-1914), a well-known jeweller working in the New Russian style. The portrayal of the Saviour bestowing a blessing is unmistakably reminiscent of V.M. Vasnetsov’s famous fresco inside the dome of the Vladimir Cathedral in Kiev.
Notes on symbols:
* Indicates 5% Import Duty Charge applies.
Ω Indicates 20% Import Duty Charge applies.
§ Indicates Artist's Resale Right applies.
† Indicates Standard VAT scheme applies, and the rate of 20% VAT will be charged on both hammer price and premium.