Lot number 2100 - Auction 161
MONUMENTALE SIGNIERTE UND DATIERTE IKONE MIT DEM HEILIGEN MÄRTYRER HERMOGEN, PATRIARCH VON MOSKAU AUS EINER KIRCHEN-IKONOSTASE

A MONUMENTAL SIGNED AND DATED ICON SHOWING THE HOLY MARTYR HERMOGENES, PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW, FROM A CHURCH ICONOSTASIS Russian, Moscow, Georgy Feodorovich Vityugov, dated 1913 Tempera on wood panel with kovcheg. The background gilded and ornamentally engraved, the border decorated emulating contemporary cloisonné enamel. Inscribed in Cyrillic with place name, signature and date lower left. Executed in very fine painting and in an unusually large format. The garments are richly highlighted with gold folds, while the flesh tones are finely modelled. In 1913, the presumed mortal remains of Patriarch Hermogenes were accidentally discovered in a crypt at the Chudov Monastery during repair works. In connection with the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty, celebrated in the same year, he was canonised as a martyr and interred in the Dormition Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. Vertical cracks. 124.5 x 79.6 cm.