Artwork
Icoare s

Icoare s is a drawing by N. Străjescu. It is held in the collection of the "Dimitrie Gusti" National Village Museum. The work depicts three floating figures against a gold backdrop, each distinguished by vivid yet weathered hues.
About this work
Overview
The work depicts three floating figures against a gold backdrop, each distinguished by vivid yet weathered hues. A leftmost figure clutches a cross, garbed in a red robe with a blue mantle; the central figure kneels, holding a crown while dressed in red and blue; the rightmost figure, a bearded man in green, plays a stringed instrument. Halos hover above each head, reinforcing a sacred narrative.
Subject & Meaning
The composition suggests a religious tableau, likely referencing a Christian episode where a saint, a martyr, and a divine musician are presented together. The cross, crown, and instrument function as symbolic attributes, while the halos denote sanctity, inviting contemplation of faith and devotion.
Technique & Style
Executed in a medium that reproduces an image, the painting employs a gold ground typical of iconographic traditions. The palette features saturated reds, blues, and greens that have softened over time, creating a patinated appearance that hints at the work’s age and the wear of its surface.
History & Provenance
The piece is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. Its presence there indicates a cultural or ethnographic relevance, possibly linked to the study of religious visual culture within the museum’s broader holdings.
Context
Floating figures against a luminous background align the work with Eastern Orthodox iconography, where celestial space often replaces earthly settings. The combination of liturgical symbols and musical motif reflects a synthesis of worship and artistic expression common in devotional art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Born sometime in the last few centuries, N. Străjescu left behind a single drawing titled Icoare s, a modest sheet that belongs to no named movement. Their exact dates and background remain untraceable, so all we have…
Museum
"Dimitrie Gusti" National Village Museum
Continue through works from the same source collection.


















