World Treasures: Important Russian, Asian, European & American Works
November 13th & 14th, 2012
Day One - Lots 1-549
Day Two - Lots 550-1149


 
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LOT 222
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Lot 222
A VERY FINE ICON OF THE HOLY PASSION-BEARER PRINCE BORIS, VASILY PESHEKHONOV, 1862. A large and impressive icon depicting a full length image of Prince Boris wearing royal robes and a crown, holding a lance and martyr's cross and rendered in the neo-Byzantine style. His robe and crown embellished with a profusion of finely painted jewels, brocade work and fine punch-work highlighted with translucent pigments. The borders ornately incised and painted in faux enameling and the gilded background also heavily incised with a pattern of scrolling strapwork. At top center Christ delivers a blessing and holds a book of gospels open to John 16:21, "A woman, when she is in labour, hath sorrow, because her hour is come; but when she hath brought forth the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world." Signed lower right in Cyrillic, "Painted by Vasiliy Peshekhonov - 1862." 20.25 inches x 15.5 inches (51.4 x 39.3cm).
Estimate:  $8,000 - 12,000   € 6,160 - 9,240
Price Realized: $60,000.00

The Peshekhonov workshop was established in St. Petersburg by Makary Samsonovich Peshekhonov (1780-1852) in the 1820’s. Upon his death it was taken over by his son, Vasily Makarovish Peshekhonov (1811-1888). The status of icon painter to the Imperial Court was awarded to Peshekhonov in 1856. In his book, Palekh Art, author A.V. Bakushinsky describes the distinct and uniquely rendered decorative elements such as found in the offered icon as the “Peshkhonov style,” referring specifically to the very fine and extremely ornate detail work, shading with translucent pigments and ornamental incised background and borders.


Comparison: For a very similar icon see: Zh. G.Belik, The Icon Painting Heritage of the Peshekhonov Workshop, Moscow, Indrik publishing, 2011, page 28 illustrating the iconostasis of the private Royal Church dedicated to the Entrance of the Mother of God Into the Temple, located in the Marble Palace of Grand Duke Constantine Nikolayevich which depicts an almost identical (albeit larger) icon as the offered lot.


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.