Russian icon, 19th century.

Russian icon, 19th century.
“Christ in Glory with Nine Chosen Saints.”
Tempera and gilding on wood panel, with a background and border carved in relief.
It shows craquelure, wear, loss of polychromy and gilding, abrasions, and small cracks in the support.
Measurements: 36 × 31.5 × 3 cm.

The composition brings together nine saints arranged in two registers beneath the image of Christ blessing from the Glory. Among the figures are bishops, monks, martyrs, and female saints, originally identified by Cyrillic inscriptions that are now partially worn away. This type of icon depicting selected saints typically reflected a specific devotion, often linked to the patron saints of the patron or their family.

The gilded background, enriched with raised geometric designs, and the wide border of polychrome plant motifs lend the composition a distinctly ornamental character. The alternation of reds, greens, blues, and whites sets the figures apart against the golden surface, while their frontal and hierarchical arrangement maintains the solemnity characteristic of the Orthodox tradition.