Lot number 2039 - Auction 161
DATIERTE IKONE MIT DEN HEILIGEN VOM KIEWER HÖHLENKLOSTER

A DATED ICON SHOWING THE SAINTS OF THE KIEV CAVES MONASTERY Russian, dated 1782 Tempera on cypress wood panel. Gold ground. An illegible inscription along the lower border includes the date '1782'. The lower part of the composition centres on the principal church of the Kiev Caves Monastery, dedicated to the Dormition of the Mother of God. To either side are saints associated with the monastery, including the monastic fathers Anthony and Theodosius holding scrolls, together with nine further saints in the lower row. The row above includes Peter (left), Metropolitan John, Saint Panteleimon, Paul (right), Sergius of Radonezh and Anthony the Hermit.In the upper part, the Mother of God 'Soothe My Sorrows' appears centrally amid banks of clouds. To her left stand Saint Michael and Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow; to her right are Saint Gabriel, Philip, the first holy Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, and Alexius, the first bearer of the title Metropolitan of Moscow, accompanied by holy women. The upper corners depict God the Father (left) and Christ (right). Minimally restored. 35.8 x 31.2 cm.