MacDougall's Russian Art Auctions 8-9 June 2011
8 June 2011
618. AN IMPORTANT ICON OF THE HOLY PROPHET, KING SOLOMON
50,000-70,000 GBP
NOVGOROD, MID 16TH CENTURY.
73 by 67 cm.
By the middle of the 16th century, new qualities had
appeared in the icon painting of Novgorod: a refinement of
the images, a gentler, smoother portrayal of the contours of
the faces, a complexity of graphical concept and execution,
a richness of tone and diversity of hue. Line played a leading
role, the sensitivity with which the folds in clothing were depicted and the semi-transparent colours, all become component parts of the evolving artistic language.
The large expressive face, the general monumental effect and
the picturesque power of the colours compel us to attribute
this icon of King Solomon with some certainty to this same
mid 16th century period and tradition. The icon of King
Solomon once belonged to a half-length Prophets tier (or row)
of the iconostasis and traditionally was positioned in the
middle of the row, to the right of the “Mother of God of the
Sign” image. There are other works resembling our icon by
Novgorodian masters and which are held in the Moscow
Kremlin: the “Mother of God and Infant Enthroned with
Prophets David and Solomon”, circa 1560s (Cathedral of the
Annunciation); “It Is Truly Meet”, circa 1559-1560 (previously in the Solovetsky Monastery); the “Vision of the Prophet
Ezekiel by the River Chebar” dated to the second half of the
16th century (previously in the vestry of the Solovetsky
Monastery); and the “Bogolyubskaya Mother of God with
Sabbatius and Zosima”, dated to 1545 (previously in the
Solovetsky Monastery).
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.