Antique Greek Portable Travel Icon of Saint Antipas in Wood, 18th Century Post-Byzantine.

Details

Description

This charming small-format icon exemplifies the post-Byzantine Greek style characteristic of 18th-century workshops, likely originating from the Greek mainland, Crete, … Read more This charming small-format icon exemplifies the post-Byzantine Greek style characteristic of 18th-century workshops, likely originating from the Greek mainland, Crete, Mount Athos, or Balkan regions under Orthodox influence. The saint is rendered frontally in canonical hierarchical pose: elderly and bearded, with a golden halo, blessing with his right hand (in traditional IC XC gesture), and holding the Gospel book marked with Alpha and Omega symbols on the cover. He wears episcopal vestments featuring the distinctive polystavron omophorion (stole with black crosses). Flanking the halo are red medallions inscribed in Greek: "Ο ΑΓΙΟΣ ΑΝΤΙΠΑΣ" (Ho Hagios Antipas – Saint Antipas).
Executed in classic egg tempera on gesso-prepared wooden panel, the icon displays a restrained warm palette of gold, ochre, red, and dark tones with a somber background – hallmarks of 18th-century conservative Orthodox iconography. Its compact size made it perfect for personal devotion, pilgrimage, or travel, a popular format among the faithful.

Provenance:
Formerly in a European private collection; acquired on the Vienna antiques market (Austria). The object has been in Europe for several decades. See less