| |
|
| Item No. |
AT0002 |
| |
|
| Work: |
Icon
|
| |
|
| Title: |
"Troyerutchizza" (Miracle of the
Third Hand) |
| |
|
| Country of Origin: |
Russia |
| |
|
| Culture/Tradition: |
Russian Orthodox Church |
| |
|
| Date of work: |
1827 |
| |
|
| Medium: |
Painted wood panel with repoussé silver
oklad (covering). |
| |
|
| Size: |
Icon: 6-9/16"
x 5-1/16" (16.6 cm x 12.8 cm) (H x W) |
| |
Oklad: 6-5/8" x 5-3/16" (16.8 cm x 13.1
cm) (H x W) |
| |
oklad height with halo: 6-13/16" (17.3 cm) |
| |
|
| Signature: |
Hallmarked. |
| |
|
| Description: |
A beautifully painted icon with a finely
hand-hammered |
| |
repouseé silver oklad.
The silver oklad was originally made
in 1827, but was worked on and altered through the very beginning of
the 20th century. It is hallmarked with an unidentified
maker’s mark from St.Petersburg, date of 1827, and
silver purity of 84 zolotniks (875/1000). The halos over the Madonna
and Child Jesus were added between 1896 and 1908 (stamped with
Russia hallmark). The reinforcements and other repair done to
the oklad probably date from this latter period.
The icon is painted on a wooden panel, showing
incised line outlines of the figures under the pigments. The bottom
portion of the painting was restored, judging from the gold paint used
on the third hand, sometime after 1860. The top back of the
panel has small holes and a chip from hanging nails. Both the painting
and the oklad contain inscriptions. |
| |
|
| JMBG Notes: |
The origin of this very unusual icon dates
back to the latter |
| |
half of the 3rd century A.D.
and the persecution of early Christians under the Roman emperor
Diocletian. At the time, according to legend, a Christian artist was
warned by the emperor to stop painting Christian motifs. When the
artist continued his work nevertheless, he was arrested by an order of
the emperor and his right hand was cut off as punishment. While
sleeping, the artist had a vision in a dream of the Holy Virgin and
Infant Jesus coming to him and bringing him his cut-off hand. When
next he woke up, his hand was miraculously restored. In thanksgiving,
he devoted himself thereafter to painting all icons of the Madonna and
Child with the addition of the miraculous third hand. |
| |
|
| Condition: |
Both the painted panel and the oklad
show wear from |
| |
considerable use. The original oklad was altered by the addition of
the halos by tab insertion into slots for retention. These tabs
caused, in turn, localized abrasion spots on the underlying painting.
Originally, oklad was nailed to the wooden panel on the sides, but now
is removable. Three of the nails still remain in the panel sides. The
edges of the wood panel show a number of chips. The bottom portion of
the icon was restored during the icon’s history upto the Holy Mother’s
hands.
The sides of the oklad show holes for nail attachment
to the panel. A minor crack occurs in the silver below Mary’s
neckline. The lower as well as the right and left sides of the oklad
were repaired in the past. |
| |
|
| Provenance: |
Private collection of Dr. Jan M. Bohonek,
Mentor, Ohio. |
| |
|
| Price: |
$1,590.00
US |
| |
|
| Details: |
Larger View of Above
Photo |
| |
Another Full View |
| |
Full Panel View |
| |
Panel Back |
| |
Panel Detail (Top) |
| |
Panel Detail (Bottom) |
| |
Hallmarks |
| |
Oklad Detail (Top) |
| |
Oklad Detail (Bottom) |
|
Oklad Back |
| |
Oklad Back Repairs |
