Figure - Sa Nicola di Mira (2) - Wood, Pigments, silver leaf

San Nicola – Devotional pair with a folk woodcarving sculpture and a painted icon on panel, Central-Eastern Europe and Bulgaria, 20th century A set dedicated to Saint Nicholas of Myra, consisting of a hand-carved wooden sculpture and a painted icon on panel, two complementary interpretations of European Christian devotional tradition. The combination brings together the plastic strength of popular carving and the symbolic language of Eastern Christian iconography, highlighting the same saint through two techniques and artistic sensibilities. 1. Saint Nicholas on his throne – Wooden sculpture Suggestive devotional sculpture depicting Saint Nicholas, bishop of Myra, shown seated on a throne with a flowing beard, stylized headwear, closed book and a curved staff akin to a pastoral staff, a symbol of episcopal dignity. The stern, contemplative face, the pronounced nose, the marked eyebrows and the beard shaped by deep geometric cuts give the figure a strong expressive personality. The collar of the garment, characterized by a sequence of pointed elements, creates an interesting play of light and shadow. The tall carved backrest, integrated into the composition, accentuates the frontal and solemn nature of the representation. In terms of plastic language, formal synthesis and the conception of the figure, the work can be traced to the tradition of popular devotional sculpture of Central-Eastern Europe, with possible references to the Polish sphere. The proposed dating is around the mid-20th century, approximately 1940–1960. Technical data - Subject: Saint Nicholas of Myra - Material: carved wood - Technique: manual carving, dark finish - Cultural area: Central-Eastern Europe, probably Polish region - Era: circa 1940–1960 - Dimensions: 27.5 × 11 × 7 cm - Artist: unidentified woodcarver 2. Saint Nicholas – Icon painted on panel Icon depicting Saint Nicholas, identified by the inscriptions painted on the upper part. The saint is represented frontally, with a circular red halo, gray hair and beard, episcopal vestments and omophorion decorated with large dark crosses. In the left hand he holds a richly ornate book, while the right hand is raised in a benedictive gesture. The composition presents the distinctive characteristics of Eastern Christian iconography: hieratic frontalism, strongly defined features, vivid colors and the symbolism of sacral attributes. The silver background, obtained through silver leaf and subsequently patinated in brown tones, creates a striking contrast with the red of the garments, the ochre of the face, and the gray of the omophorion. The icon was purchased in 1980 at the Bačkovo Monastery in Bulgaria as a copy of an XVIII-century original model. The Bačkovo Monastery, founded in the 11th century, houses an important collection of icons and testimonies of Orthodox artistic tradition. Its church dedicated to Saint Nicholas also preserves a significant 19th-century painting cycle by the master Zahari Zograf. This context adds particular interest to the declared provenance of the icon. Technical data - Subject: Saint Nicholas of Myra - Type: devotional icon - Support: wooden panel - Technique: multi-colored hand painting, silver leaf background patinated - Declared provenance: purchased at Bačkovo Monastery, Bulgaria - Purchase: 1980 - Declared reference model: original of the XVIII century - Dimensions: 21.1 × 14.8 × 2 cm - Weight: 350 g State of conservation The sculpture presents a dark finish and surface variations that enhance the volumes and the workmanship of the carving. The icon is in very good condition, described as new, without defects or cracks. The silver surface and the multicolor decoration appear visually intact in the photographs. Concluding note A lot of sacred art that brings together two distinct languages of European devotion: popular wooden sculpture and an Orthodox icon. The common subject of Saint Nicholas, the difference in techniques, and the declared Bulgarian provenance of the icon make the ensemble interesting for collectors of religious art, Eastern icons, and 20th-century devotional sculpture. The photos are part of the description. Quickly very well packed with expanded polystyrene and/or polyfoam, and shipped with tracking and insurance via the best shipping agencies. The shipping cost includes tracking, packaging materials, and insurance of the work. Due to customs duties and procedures, we do not ship to the USA. Corsica and other non-Italian European islands to be agreed.

Estimate:$1.12

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