Russian icon from the 18th century.

Russian icon from the 18th century.
"Saint George and Saint Alexius".
Painting on wood.
It presents faults in the polychromy.
Measurements: 26 x 20 x 2 cm.
In this icon, St. George is represented dressed as a warrior, holding a cross and the shield between his hands, and St. Alexius with a physical aspect that shows his patronage of beggars, vagrants and sick people. Both saints are depicted frontally in a hieratic pose typical of the aesthetics of Russian icons.
St George slaying the dragon is, together with the double-headed eagle, the symbol of the Russian state, pre-dating Peter the Great. The figure was not officially identified as St George until 1730, when he was described as such in an imperial decree. The early form of this symbol, a dragon slayer on horseback, was always associated with the Grand Duchy of Muscovy, later becoming the official coat of arms of the city of Moscow. St George later became the patron saint of Moscow and, by extension, of Russia.