Product Description
St George, Warrior (Святой Георгий, Воин). Standing in front of the Kremlin walls in golden armor with lance, shield and quiver of arrows, i.e., ready for battle. Marked "Палех" and dated (1979). Beautifully done and a seriously unusual and uncommon depiction, both time and place. No artist signature as this was certainly made "sub rosa" at the Palekh workshop just before the 1980 Olympics. At that time, religious representation on art was subject to censure. An unusual political artifact, as such. Egg tempera, lacquer, papier-mache.
3"x 9", Russia. 1 only, as shown.
George the man was a Roman soldier born in the late 3rd century A.D. in Cappadocia. He was brought up Christian by his widowed mother in her hometown of Lydda, in Palestine. During the reign of the Roman emperor Diocletian (245-316), the last major persecution of Christians occurred, and being a Roman commander by this time, George was ordered to take part. He refused and was tortured, killed, and eventually martyred. Devotion for St. George was early (a church was dedicated to him only a generation after his death) and widespread. His appearance in icons is depicted as a youth with curly brown hair, and attired in soldier's armor. Other titles for St George include The Great-martyr, The Victory-bearer and Wonder-worker George. Certain depictions include him slaying a dragon, and riding a white horse. George is "farmer", and compounds two Greek words: ge (earth or soil) and ergon (worker).
Note: some evidence of age, edge wear, white mark on back, and craquelure (light, barely visible irregular lines on the surface which can be intentional patterning and/or a result of aging).
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