Who painted Boris and Gleb with Scenes from Their Lives?

Boris and Gleb with Scenes from Their Lives was painted by Unknown in 1350.

Where can I see Boris and Gleb with Scenes from Their Lives?

Boris and Gleb with Scenes from Their Lives is held by Tretyakov Gallery.

What movement is Boris and Gleb with Scenes from Their Lives?

Boris and Gleb with Scenes from Their Lives is associated with Russian Icon.

Artwork

Boris and Gleb with Scenes from Their Lives

Unknown , 1350

Boris and Gleb with Scenes from Their Lives is a tempera painting by the Russian Icon artist Unknown. It dates from 1350 and is held in the collection of the Tretyakov Gallery. The tempera panel presents the saints Boris and Gleb standing together, each clad in long robes and bearing a sword.

About this work

Overview

The tempera panel presents the saints Boris and Gleb standing together, each clad in long robes and bearing a sword. Their heads are encircled by luminous halos, and they are rendered in a palette dominated by green and red tones. Surrounding the central figures are numerous diminutive vignettes that illustrate episodes from the saints’ lives, arranged in a decorative border.

Subject & Meaning

Boris and Gleb, venerated as early Russian martyrs, are depicted as intercessors, their swords symbolizing both their princely status and their martyrdom.

Boris and Gleb, venerated as early Russian martyrs, are depicted as intercessors, their swords symbolizing both their princely status and their martyrdom. The surrounding narrative scenes, riders on horseback, figures within architectural settings, and individuals in boats, visualize key moments of their hagiography, ranging from battles to moments of prayer, underscoring their dual roles as warriors and holy men.

Technique & Style

Executed in egg‑tempera, the work relies on pigment mixed with egg yolk to achieve a matte, luminous surface. The artist employs a vivid chromatic scheme, reds, greens, golds, and blues, typical of medieval Russian iconography, while the fine detailing of the peripheral scenes demonstrates a high level of draftsmanship within the constraints of the medium.

History & Provenance

The panel is part of the collection of the Tretyakov Gallery, which houses a significant corpus of Russian religious art. Its attribution to a specific workshop or date remains uncertain, but the use of tempera and the iconographic program align it with the tradition of 14th‑ to 15th‑century Russian devotional painting.