Who painted Neljäkymmentä marttyyria, venäläinen ikoni?

Neljäkymmentä marttyyria, venäläinen ikoni was painted by tekijä ei tiedossa.

Where can I see Neljäkymmentä marttyyria, venäläinen ikoni?

Neljäkymmentä marttyyria, venäläinen ikoni is held by Finnish National Gallery.

What movement is Neljäkymmentä marttyyria, venäläinen ikoni?

Neljäkymmentä marttyyria, venäläinen ikoni is associated with Russian Icon.

Artwork

Neljäkymmentä marttyyria, venäläinen ikoni

tekijä ei tiedossa

Neljäkymmentä marttyyria, venäläinen ikoni is an unspecified painting by the Russian Icon artist tekijä ei tiedossa. It is held in the collection of the Finnish National Gallery. The panel is a modest wooden icon depicting forty soldier-saints arranged in two horizontal rows.

About this work

Overview

The panel is a modest wooden icon depicting forty soldier-saints arranged in two horizontal rows. Each figure is rendered in profile, clad in stylized Roman armor, and crowned with a golden halo. The composition is compact, allowing the entire group to be viewed at a glance, and the calm expressions contrast with the implied wounds of arrows that pierce their bodies.

Subject & Meaning

The work presents a collective of martyr soldiers, a visual invocation of divine protection for warriors. By portraying the saints with serene faces despite their injuries, the icon conveys steadfast faith and the promise of spiritual solace for those facing combat or perilous journeys.

Technique & Style

Executed in egg‑tempera on a wooden substrate, the paint is applied in thin, luminous layers that give the figures a subtle glow. The gold halos are rendered with a flat, reflective pigment, while the armor and weapons are outlined in crisp linear strokes characteristic of medieval Russian iconography.

History & Provenance

Such portable icons were traditionally carried by soldiers and merchants as talismans during campaigns and long voyages. The piece now belongs to the collection of the Museum of Ethnography, where it is displayed as an example of devotional art used for personal protection.

Context

The depiction of soldier‑martyrs reflects a broader medieval tradition of linking military service with Christian sacrifice. In the Russian Orthodox world, these images reinforced the notion that earthly battles were fought under the patronage of holy warriors, bridging the sacred and the secular in everyday life.