19th Century Saint Nicholas Icon With Repoussé Oklad

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A striking late-19th-century Russian Orthodox icon depicting Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, Bishop of Myra, one of the most widely venerated … Read more A striking late-19th-century Russian Orthodox icon depicting Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, Bishop of Myra, one of the most widely venerated saints in Eastern Christianity.
Saint Nicholas is portrayed frontally in traditional episcopal vestments, raising his right hand in blessing while holding an open Gospel book in his left. His face and hands are painted in tempera on a prepared wooden panel, while the composition is protected and embellished by an elaborate repoussé and chased metal oklad, also known as a riza.
The richly worked covering features a large foliate halo, cross-decorated omophorion, scrolling floral borders, geometric ornament, and contrasting gold and silver-toned surfaces. The lower Church Slavonic inscription abbreviates “Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker.” The open Gospel bears the passage from Matthew 11:28: “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Created as both a devotional image and an object of artistic reverence, the oklad protects the painted surface while emphasizing the saint’s sacred vestments and radiant halo. Centuries of oxidation, rubbing, and devotional wear have created a richly layered patina that enhances the icon’s historic presence.
Dimensions: Height: 10.5 in. x Width: 8.75 in. x Depth: .75 in. See less