Russian Icon depicting Christ Pantocrator - mid-20th century (circa 1930-1950

Height x width: 35.5 x 26.5 cm
tempera on panel
Icon on panel depicting Christ Pantocrator (Christos Pantokrator), one of the most solemn and iconic images of the Orthodox tradition, in which Christ is represented as the Lord of the Universe, Judge, and Savior of humankind.
The composition presents the Redeemer in a half-length frontal pose, with a perfectly symmetrical face and an intense gaze directed toward the viewer. His right hand is raised in the traditional gesture of blessing according to the Eastern rite, while his left hand holds an open Gospel bearing an inscription in Church Slavonic taken from the Gospel text.
The cruciform halo is executed in gold leaf and bears the traditional Greek letters Ὁ ὬΝ ("He Who Is"), while the abbreviations IC XC, identifying the name of Jesus Christ, appear on either side of His head. His garments, consisting of an ochre-gold tunic and an himation modelled with delicate linear highlights, reflect the pictorial tradition of the ancient-inspired Russian icon schools.
Flanking the central figure are two standing saints: Saint Peter the Apostle on the left and Saint John the Evangelist on the right, depicted as witnesses to the Gospel revelation and to the divine nature of Christ.
The deep blue background creates a striking chromatic contrast with the gilded halo and the warm tones of Christ's garments, while the broad black border outlined in red lends balance and monumentality to the overall composition. In the lower right corner appears the signature "Augustinou," likely referring to the iconographer or the workshop responsible for the execution of the icon.

The iconography of Christ Pantocrator has been the central subject of Byzantine and Orthodox sacred art since the sixth century, becoming the most widespread devotional image in icons intended both for ecclesiastical settings and for private worship.

Based on its stylistic characteristics, compositional design, and execution technique, the present icon can be attributed to a 20th-century production, created according to the models of the Russian iconographic tradition while employing a more modern and simplified pictorial language.

The reverse bears an importer's certificate of authenticity relating to the icon, together with normal signs of age and use.

Item condition grading: *** fair.
The lot is in a good state of preservation with the normal wear and defects commensurate with its age and use over time. The painted surface is in good overall condition, displaying widespread age-appropriate craquelure of the ground and paint layers, consistent with the age of the work. Minor surface abrasions, modest wear along the edges, and limited retouching or small areas of paint loss are present, none of which compromise the overall legibility of the image. The gold leaf retains much of its original brilliance. The wooden support appears stable and consistent with the construction technique employed.