Important Asian, Russian, European and American Works
May 24th & 25th, 2011


 
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LOT 32
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Lot 32
A FINE RUSSIAN ICON OF ST. JOHN THE FORERUNNER WITH LIFE SCENES, PALEKH, 19TH CENTURY. At center a full length image of John who wears a hair shirt (vlasyanitsa), holds a cross in his right hand with the fingers configured in the manner favored by the Old Believers. In his left hand he holds a gilt salver containing his head as well as a scroll reading, “I saw and witnessed concerning him, behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sins of the world” (John 1:29) and the beginning of Matthew 3:2, “Repent Ye,…” He is surrounded by various scenes from his life. At lower left the Birth of John the Forerunner and above that an angel leads the child John into the wilderness “there to remain until he comes of age”. It is interesting to note that John’s wilderness is represented as a lush forest, as Russian painters were not familiar with the desert wilderness of Judea, rather to them a wilderness was a vast, uninhabited expanse of tress, not a dry place barren of vegetation. Lower right is the scene of the beheading of John and the presentation of his head to Salome. And above that is the Obrettenie, the “Finding” of the honorable head of John the Forerunner, in this case the third of three such discoveries. At top within an arched kovcheg, God the Father above characteristic Palekh style clouds, delivers a blessing. 12.2 inches x 10 inches (31 x 25.5 cm)
Estimate:  $1,000 - 1,500  
Price Realized: $1,800.00
All items are sold “AS IS” and there will be no returns based on condition. The items sold are often of considerable age and will exhibit wear, usage and damage often not listed in the catalog entry. The absence of condition remarks in the catalog entry DOES NOT mean the item is in perfect condition. Prospective buyers are in ALL CASES responsible for determining the physical condition of lots. No employee or agent of Jackson's International Auctioneers and Appraisers is authorized to make on our behalf or on that of the consignor any representation or warranty, oral or written, with respect to any property. Therefore, if a prospective bidder has not examined the property to their satisfaction before the sale, or his/her agent has not inspected the property, Jackson's recommends that they not bid on the property. All dimensions are approximate. The condition of frames is not guaranteed.