Moscow, early 18th century, rare and wonderful icon of the 12 feasts

Moscow, early 18th century, possibly within the sphere of or influenced by the Stroganov school, a wonderful and significant celebratory icon of the 12 Great Feasts of the Byzantine liturgical year, with original painting and patina. Egg tempera on a linden wood panel, reinforced by slats inserted into the thickness of the panel at the top and bottom (18th-century execution technique). In excellent condition of conservation and originality, including the painting, with a fascinating original patina unaltered by restorations or inappropriate cleaning. A circumscribed conservative/consolidative restoration from long ago, well executed, on the right side for the observer of the work. Dimensions: cm.35.5 x 31, average panel thickness cm.2.3 approx. Patina, signs of use and time, slight paint losses consistent with age. From the type of script of the inscriptions (Popova literature, Smirnova, Cortesi - Icons) and from the examination of the significant and appreciable pictorial quality, a possible influence on the work from the taste and style of the Stroganov family workshop school can be discerned. The Stroganov School (Russian: ????????????? ?????) is a conventional name for the last great Russian school of icon painting, which flourished under the patronage of the wealthy Stroganov merchant family between the late 16th and the entire 17th century and beyond. The artworks of the Stroganov School have several characteristics in common, such as small size, exquisite attention to detail, refinement of the palette (obtained mostly with halftones, gold and silver colors), density of paint layers, graphic precision of details, fragile and somewhat pretentious delicacy of postures and gestures of the characters, richness of their vestments, and finally, fantasy. The cycle of feasts of the liturgical year is codified in Byzantium from the 12th century and includes: the Birth of the Mother of God, the Presentation of the Mother of God to the Temple, the Annunciation, the Nativity of Christ, the Presentation of Christ to the Temple, the Baptism of Christ, the Transfiguration, the Entry into Jerusalem, the Resurrection, the Ascension, the Exaltation of the Cross, the Dormition of the Mother of God. An icon representing scenes of the festivities, contemporary, of similar dimensions and quality, is kept in the collection of Russian icons of the Pitti Palace Museum, in Florence. Click on the link in the page to see it