Lot number 2105 - Auction 151
A VERY IMPORTANT, SIGNED ICON OF SAINT JOHN THE THEOLOGIAN IN SILENCE

A VERY IMPORTANT, SIGNED ICON OF SAINT JOHN THE THEOLOGIAN IN SILENCE

Russian, Moscow, Armoury Chamber, Workshop of Simon Ushakov, dated 1688

Single panel with two inserted back slats (lost). Kovcheg, gesso, egg tempera with partial gilding and silvering. On the back Cyrillic inscription in ink, bearing the signature 'Simeon Pimen' and the date '7196' (1688). The flesh areas are rendered in a plastic manner, modeled in red and brown tones with fine highlights; the garments are executed in earthy browns and greens. Losses to the edges, heavy surface soiling. 30.3 x 26.5 cm

Simon Ushakov (1626–1686) is regarded as the most important Moscow icon painter of the 17th century. Entering the service of the Tsar at an early age, he worked first in the Silver Chamber and from 1664 in the Kremlin Armoury, where he headed the court painting workshops and trained an entire school of icon painters. Among his most celebrated works are the Vladimir Mother of God with Moscow Saints, the Mandylion (Not Made by Hands) in the Trinity–Sergius Lavra, and several portraits of the Russian Tsars. Ushakov combined the strict Russian-Byzantine tradition with Western influences, decisively shaping the development of Russian icon painting in his time.