Lot 230
A FINE RUSSIAN ICON OF THE SEVEN YOUTHS OF EPHESUS, 17TH CENTURY, YAROSLAVL.  The Seven Youths or Seven Sleepers as they are often called, were early Christians who sought refuge in a cave from the persecutions of the emperor Decius in the 3rd century. They were walled up alive, and fell into a miraculous sleep for 200 years at which time they awoke and were discovered by the citizens of Ephesus who, over the past two centuries had converted to Christianity. They are depicted here asleep within a cave in a hill. In this example, each is identified with an inscription alongside their head. Clockwise from lower left they are Ioann, Dionisiy, Maximilian, Martinian, Iamvlikh, Konstantin, and Antonin. The gilt inscription on the upper margin identifies the subject as “The Image of the Seven Youths of Ephesus”. The borders overlaid with a later silver-gilt repousse basma hallmarked Moscow, dated 1861 and Cyrillic makers mark V.Z. The reverse of the offered icon is affixed with a label from Mosgostorg with export stamp as well as an exhibition label for A La Vielle Russie, 1962, catalog No. 60. 8.6 inches x 7.25 inches (22 cm x 18.5 cm).
Estimate:  $3,000 - 5,000   € 2,200 - 3,700

Price Realized: $13,200.00

Beginning in the 1920’s, the fledgling Soviet government began selling antiques and art to combat chronic shortages of foreign currency as well as expunging religious imagery from the new atheistic society. It was through the various commission shops and Mosgostorg that many of the best Russian icons and objects of art were acquired by those westerners who were able to travel to the Soviet Union at this time.