Lot 67A
Eastern Europe, Russia, ca. 1750 CE. Finely delineated in gold leaf, egg tempera, gesso, and varnish on linen and then applied to wood, an icon depicting the Circumcision of Christ, stemming from this event in accordance with the Gospel of Luke which states that Jesus was circumcised eight days after his birth, traditionally on January 1st, following Jewish law as written in the Book of Genesis (see below). Mary holds the infant Christ before a priest who holds a knife. Joseph stands beside Mary, and the bishop of the church stands beside him. God the Father is above the scene and three saints occupy the borders. This event in the Life of Christ is significant for several reasons: it marked the first time that Jesus' blood was shed, and thus symbolized the redemption of man; in addition it demonstrated that Christ was human and obeyed Biblical law. Size: 21.125" L x 16.75" W (53.7 cm x 42.5 cm)
The circumcision of Christ became quite popular in Christian art from the 10th century onward. Initially featured as a scene in a larger cycle, by the Renaissance period it was treated as an independent subject or the main theme of an altarpiece. Famous depictions of the theme include paintings by Fra Angelico (c. 1450), Luca Signorelli (c. 1491), and Albrecht Durer (c. 1500).
Circumcision was viewed as a necessary act that demonstrated who was a faithful Israelite. However, in God's words to Abraham, "And it shall be a sign of a covenant between Me and you," we see that there was a deeper reason for this painful act, as it exemplifies a covenant or sacred agreement between God and his faithful followers. "This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised; and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you. He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised, every male child in your generations . . ." (Genesis 17: 10-12)
Provenance: private Santa Fe, New Mexico USA collection
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#124420
- Condition: Small losses to corners and nicks to peripheries. Surface wear with pigment/gilt losses commensurate with age, but overall imagery is very good. Verso shows age cracks and intact back slats.
Accepted Forms of Payment:
Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Shipping
Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense
Artemis Fine Arts
You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 24.5% and any applicable taxes and shipping.
View full terms and conditions
| From: | To: | Increments: |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $299 | $25 |
| $300 | $999 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $1,999 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $4,999 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $9,999 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $19,999 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $49,999 | $2,000 |
| $50,000 | $99,999 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $199,999 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 + | $25,000 |