Who painted Pyhä Nikolaus, venäläinen ikoni?

Pyhä Nikolaus, venäläinen ikoni was painted by tekijä ei tiedossa.

Where can I see Pyhä Nikolaus, venäläinen ikoni?

Pyhä Nikolaus, venäläinen ikoni is held by Finnish National Gallery.

What movement is Pyhä Nikolaus, venäläinen ikoni?

Pyhä Nikolaus, venäläinen ikoni is associated with Russian Icon.

Artwork

Pyhä Nikolaus, venäläinen ikoni

tekijä ei tiedossa

Pyhä Nikolaus, 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 work is a Russian Orthodox icon depicting Saint Nicholas.

About this work

Overview

The work is a Russian Orthodox icon depicting Saint Nicholas. Rendered on a flat gold background, the saint is shown with a halo, a book in one hand and three golden spheres in the other, his garments rendered in vivid red and gold tones.

Subject & Meaning

Saint Nicholas, revered for his charitable acts, is traditionally represented with three gold balls symbolising the dowry he secretly provided for three impoverished sisters. The inclusion of a book underscores his role as a learned bishop and patron of travelers.

Technique & Style

The image follows the conventional iconographic language of Russian religious art, employing a flat, non‑modelled surface and a limited palette of saturated colors. Gold leaf, applied in thin sheets, creates the luminous background, while the figures are painted with egg tempera mixed with mineral pigments, a medium known for its durability over centuries.

History & Provenance

The icon is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography, which holds a broader assemblage of Russian icons. Its precise date of creation is not specified, but the adherence to traditional materials and stylistic conventions places it within the historic practice of Russian iconography.

Context

Russian icons served both liturgical and didactic functions, acting as visual focal points in churches and as objects of private devotion. The depiction of Saint Nicholas reflects his widespread veneration across Eastern Orthodoxy, particularly among seafarers and merchants.

Legacy

As an example of the enduring iconographic tradition, the piece illustrates the continuity of religious visual culture in Russia. Its preservation in a museum setting allows contemporary audiences to study the technical methods and devotional symbolism that have shaped Eastern Christian art.