Russian icon. Smolensk, XIX century.

Russian icon. Smolensk, 19th century.
"Christ the Savior of Smolensk."
Tempera and gesso on panel.
It has slight lack of polychrome.
Measurements: 107 x 70 cm.

This icon represents the typology known as Christ the Savior of Smolensk, a Russian variant of the full body Pantocrator Christ linked to the devotional tradition of the city of Smolensk since the 16th century.

The figure of Christ appears standing and frontal, blessing with the right hand while holding with the left the open Gospel, inscribed in Cyrillic characters. The cruciform nimbus with the initials IC XC is placed above his head. In the upper part there are two angels on clouds carrying medallions with the monogram of Christ, a characteristic element of this iconography.

At the feet of the Savior are represented two monastic saints kneeling in an attitude of veneration, traditionally identified in this iconographic type with St. Sergius of Radonezh and St. Varlaam of Khutyn, outstanding saints of Russian monasticism. The scene is completed with a wide border with saints and evangelists, as well as small scenes in the corners, following ornamental models widespread in 19th century Russian icon painting.

Because of its large dimensions and the complexity of its iconographic program, this icon was not intended for private domestic devotion, but was probably part of a liturgical or ecclesiastical context, as an element of an iconostasis, a chapel or devotional space within a church.