Tempera and gold leaf on wood
Greece, circa 1700
Deesis panels of Christ, the Mother of God and John the Baptist
3 further panels of the Apostles
High relief carving
Dimensions Deesis: 30 x 67 cm
Dimensions Apostles to the right: 26 x 102 and 26 x 90 cm
Dimensions Apostles to the left: 27 x 59 cm
Provenance: German private collection
Gorgeous Iconostasis featuring a highly detailed execution

This stunning Greek Iconostasis was created around 1700. It comprises three singular panels showing the Deesis with Christ Pantocrator in the middle, facing the spectator directly, with his right blessing him, with the left holding the Gospel Book, flanked by the Mother of God and John the Baptist to his right and left, pointing towards him. The three figures on the central Deesis scene are framed by raised columns and round arched and are accompanied by three further segments, on which altogether seven Apostles are shown, also framed by relief columns and round arches, some of their portraits flanked with decorative sculptural floral panels. Three of the Apostles are depicted with scrolls, two with closed and two with open books. The Greek Iconostasis is executed in a beautifully detailed manner; the hands and faces are accentuated with white highlights. The background and the decorative high relief, framing each portrait, are covered with gold leaf and each portrait is inscribed in red.



The Iconostasis comprises altogether six parts, which depict four apostles, two apostles and one apostle respectively in addition to the individual icons of the Deesis (Christ, the Mother of God and St. John the Baptist). The wood is vermiculated (no activity) and some panels show losses to the upper and lower corners.



Iconostasis

An Iconostasis plays a central role in the Orthodox Church as a wall of icons, separating the nave from the sanctuary. It is subdivided into a central Deesis depiction, comprising Christ, the Mother of God and John the Baptist and the images of the Twelve Apostles, which are usually divided into two groups of six, each respectively to the right and left of Christ. The Iconostasis almost never reaches the ceiling of the church, so that the congregation stays able to follow the words and songs of the priest.