19th century Russian icon.

19th century Russian icon.
"Christ Pantocrator".
Tempera on wood.
Oklad in silver plated metal.
It presents some old craquelures.
Size: 45 x 36 x 3,5 cm.
This icon, painted in tempera on panel and protected by an embossed brass cover (oklad), depicts the "Spas" or Pantocrator, the Saviour, an icon that can be seen in every Orthodox temple. It depicts Christ in a robe and mantle, with straight hair over his shoulders and a short beard. With his right hand he blesses, and with his left hand he holds the Gospel, which may be closed or open, as here. Christ wears a richly worked halo in the oklad, but the half-length figure is entirely painted, combining the symbolic colours of passion and purity (red and blue).
Icons painted on wood suffer from candle soot, humidity, temperature fluctuations and are continually touched by parishioners. Likewise, the paint darkens, deteriorates, cracks and erases. The oklad or “riza”, another term used, protects the icons from harmful effects, prolonging their useful life.